"Long. Yours?"
"Same. I had three emergency surgeries and I'm exhausted."
Caoimhe hands me a glass of wine. "Here, you look like you need this."
"Thanks." I take a sip and let myself relax into the familiar chaos of the clubhouse.
This is what I needed—not the lab, not my flat, just this. People who don't care about my research or my grades, just whether I'm okay.
We talk about nothing important for a while. Caoimhe tells a story about Saoirse's latest adventure at preschool that has us all laughing.
I notice Rush at the bar, same spot as last week, same controlled stillness. He's tracking the room with that quiet intensity that should probably make me uncomfortable but doesn't.
His eyes meet mine for a second and I raise my wine glass slightly, acknowledging him.
He nods back, expression unchanged.
"He's always like that," Chloe says, following my gaze.
"Like what?"
"Watching everything, always on alert."
"It's his job."
"It's more than that with Rush. It's just who he is."
Gráinne leans in. "How's the babysitting going? Is he being too intense?"
"No, he's fine. Mostly just walks me to my car and that's it."
"Good. Let us know if he's not."
We move on to other topics but I'm still aware of Rush across the room, still aware of the way he's positioned himself where he can see both the door and our table.
Professional paranoia or something deeper, I still can't tell.
Around ten, I decide to head out. I say goodbye to the old ladies and walk toward the door.
Rush is there before I am, like he knew I was leaving before I did.
"I'll walk you out," he says.
"I know the drill."
We walk to the bus stop in comfortable silence, the cold night air biting through my jacket.
I turn to face him. "You don't have to do this every time, you know."
"I know."
"But you're going to anyway."
"Yeah."
I shake my head but I'm almost smiling. "Consistency, I'll give you that."
"It's all I've got."