Page 162 of Rewind It Back

“Baby, I’d happily live with yellow walls, knowing you’re the one who chose them.” He gives me a quick kiss. “Ready?”

When he opens the door, every pair of eyes turns our way. I find Stevie first, which settles me more than I was expecting, and I give her an excited wave. It’s nice to know that even though I’m the new girl around here, she’s been doing this for years and can show me the ropes.

“Everyone,” Rio announces, “this is my girlfriend, Hallie. Be nice to her or I’ll literally never talk to you again.” There’s a collective laugh throughout the room before Rio tilts my chin up to him. “See you after.”

“Good luck.”

He drops a quick kiss on my lips before taking off to the locker room.

Stevie instantly greets me with a hug. “Don’t be nervous. I was working for Zee’s team before I ever showed up to one of his games as his girlfriend, and I was terrified. But we’re all here for the same reason. Everyone is so excited to meet you.”

We spend about an hour in the family waiting room and any nerves I did feel about being the new girl quickly dissipate. Everyone is kind and excited for me to be there, and apparently, they’ve been curious about me for weeks, ever since Rio told his teammates that we were together.

They seem invested in getting to know me, which I think could be attributed to Rio telling his buddies that I was his high school sweetheart. It helped affirm the fact that my being here tonight isn’t temporary.

About fifteen minutes before warmups begin, Stevie leads me up to their family’s box. Apparently, this box belongs to the Zanders and Shay families all season long, with Zee playing here some nights and Ryan on others.

When Stevie opens the door, I find it full of people.Familiarpeople this time.

They all turn to face me as I stand in the doorway, but I’m not as nervous as I was downstairs. Because these people I’ve all met at one point or another. Ryan and Indy are here, as are Miller, Kai, Kennedy, and Isaiah.

I lift my hand in a wave. “Hi.”

“Hell yes!” Miller cheers.

“Finally,” Kennedy says with a smile.

“I am so glad you’re here!” Indy tacks on, rushing me with a hug.

I say my hellos to them and to their husbands too. They give me a little tour of the suite, showing me where the food and drinks are, and we hang out while we wait for the game to start.

It’s nice. It’sreallynice.

They don’t just make me feel like I belong, but they make it seem as if I’m right where I’m supposed to be. Any fears I had about fitting into Rio’s new life are quieted. His “new” friends are exactly the kind of people I’d hope for him to have in his life.

Outside of Zee, I learn that Stevie and Indy have known Rio the longest, since they started working on the Raptors’ team plane at the beginning of Rio’s second year in the league. It’s clear how much they care about him. They seem like a pair of older sisters without the intimidating aspect.

I don’t even have to ask to know that Indy is his closest friend here, and that Ryan, her husband, loves Rio but won’t admit it out loud.

The Rhodes families met him a couple years later, rounding out these five athletes and their wives who formed this unique little friendship group. But it’s wild to me that Rio met Kai and Isaiah last because every time Isaiah opens his mouth, I can’t get over how similar it sounds to some of the goofy things I’ve heard Rio say over the years.

The way they all speak about him—highly, while still giving him a bit of shit—makes it so clear how loved he is by these people. They seem like the definition ofhis people. Like they’d do anything for him.

I understand that sentiment all too well.

We take our seats as the team skates out for warmups, and I’m smack dab in the middle of the girls, with two on my left and two on my right.

The jumbotron plays the team’s intro video, but I can’t peel my eyes away from the rink, following Rio as he skates onto the ice and takes a few laps on their team’s side. Even with the arena dark and the light show bouncing over the ice, I watch him.

Which is nothing new, I suppose. Thirty-eight has had my attention for fifteen years now, even when he was wearing a different number.

“Does this all feel surreal to you?” Stevie asks.

I nod. “That’s exactly how I would describe it. I started watching his games when he was in middle school, but I haven’t seen him play live since his second season in college.”

“All of us met our husbands after they were already playing in the pros,” Miller says. “How do you feel, getting to see his career form from the beginning to this point?”

Still focused on him on the ice, I simply say, “Proud.”

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