Page 125 of Rewind It Back

“His test results look good,” Dr. Young says. “We ran the usual ones, and nothing is showing signs of a relapse.”

“Oh, thank God.” My brother exhales, hands braced behind his head. “He’s okay?”

Dr. Young smiles. “He’s okay. His temperature is back in the normal range, and he hasn’t spiked a fever since he’s been here. But he is fairly dehydrated, so I want to keep him overnight, get him some fluids, and keep an eye on him.”

“Yeah. Yeah, of course.” Luke immediately turns to Sarah and hugs her, holding on with everything he’s got, but I don’t let myself dip into the emotional relief he’s experiencing.

I keep my composure, asking all the follow-up questions until I feel satisfied in knowing he really is going to be okay. Even then, the only shift in my expression is a simple smile when I say, “Thank you, Dr. Young.”

“Of course, Hallie. I’m going to fill your dad in on everything, but I wanted to give you kids some peace of mind. You can go back and visit him in a bit.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

Luke and Sarah are hugging again, this elated relief being shared between them, and I’m just standing there, not knowing what to do with my hands. Instead, I refocus on the television because not focusing on something feels awkward and uncomfortable while my brother and his wife are sharing this emotional moment.

But then all my attention shifts to the glass windows lining the waiting room wall, watching a man in a beanie jog down the hall in this direction. He pulls the door open to scan the room, finding me in no time.

All my fear, stress, and exhaustion begin to bubble to the surface in a way I’ve never let it, just from seeing Rio standing in the doorway of the hospital waiting room. He’s concerned, that’s evident in his expression, but it’s also mixed with a bit of relief and a sense of protectiveness.

What is he doing here? But also, can he get to me a little quicker?

I must be in shock because I’m telling my feet to move, to meet him partway, but I’m not going anywhere. I’m frozen in place. But my disbelief doesn’t seem to slow him down, because in three quick strides he has his arms wrapped tightly around me, pulling me into his chest.

“Are you okay?” he asks quietly, lips close to my ear.

Apparently, that shock has translated into an inability to speak as well.

“What do you need?” he continues, burrowing his face against the nape of my neck.

This.

I need this. My body knows it too, as it melts into him, letting go of all the tension and stress I’ve been carrying. Because what I’ve always needed isthis.

Taking a deep breath, I inhale his scent, finally coming to when I wrap my arms around his waist and hold on. I grip his flannel shirt in my fists, bury my face against his chest, and close my eyes.

“Hallie, baby,” he whispers. “I’ve got you.”

He has literally no idea what’s going on, but still he holds me, one hand slipping into my hair, palm cupping my head as he keeps me hidden against his chest, like he’s some kind of shield that could protect me.

Maybe he could.

I have so many questions, and I’m sure he does too. I pull back slightly to look up at him, those green eyes boring into mine. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look so concerned.

“What are you doing here?” I finally ask, swallowing down the emotion in my throat.

“Wren called me.”

Wren, my roommate, who also asked me to share my location with her before I started my drive.

“But your game—”

“Myjob, you mean. I took the day off. I told them I had a family emergency. My agent booked me the first flight out of Boston.”

Family emergency.

“This game is too important for you to miss.”

“Hallie, I couldn’t care less about that game right now. It’s one of eighty-two.”

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