Page 50 of Rewind It Back

“I’m not worrying.”

“Tell your face that, Hal.”

“Where are you?” Indy calls from downstairs.

“Coming!” he shouts back. “Come on, Jealous.” Rio puts his hand on my lower back, leading me back to the stairs. “I’ll introduce you.”

“I’m not jealous,” I mutter under my breath.

When we make it back downstairs, it’s not only Indy waiting for him. There’s a total of four women hanging out in his kitchen. And sure, maybe I could admit that a bit of jealousy sparks, seeing them so comfortable in his home when I feel like a newbie here. But that jealousy quickly dies when I notice all four of them are wearing wedding bands on their ring fingers.

“Oh, it’s the whole crew,” Rio says, leading us into the kitchen to join them. “What are you all doing here?”

Every pair of eyes is locked on me and yeah, maybe that’d be intimidating if they weren’t all smiling at me a little too excitedly.

“Hello?” he asks, but they’re all looking right past him to me. “Okay, well fuck me, I guess. Hallie, this is Stevie, Indy, Miller, and Kennedy.” He gestures to each one as he says their names. “Everyone, this is Hallie. But I have a feeling you all already know that and she’s exactly why you’re here.”

I’m a bit envious of the community he has here in Chicago. He and I always had large circles of friends when we were younger, but the last few years have felt isolated from taking care of my dad. It’s one of the many reasons why I couldn’t have been more thrilled when Wren and I hit it off, but I’d love to expand my circle of friends in this city. Especially girlfriends.

I attempt to commit their names to memory.

Stevie with the curly hair and worn-in Nikes on her feet.

Indy with her blonde braid and Converse.

Miller with her tattoos and overalls.

Kennedy with the Vans and striking red hair.

“Hi,” I offer with a small wave.

“It issogreat to meet you, Hallie.” Indy steps up, pulling me into an unexpected hug.

She holds on even tighter, and with my bulging eyes I catch the other three girls laughing over her shoulder.

“Ind,” Kennedy chuckles. “Not everyone is a hugger.”

“Well...” She releases me, still holding me at arm’s length. “Everyone should be.”

I smile at her. “I’m a hugger.”

Indy rejoins her girlfriends. “See? I like her already.”

“Hal,” Rio says. “You met Stevie’s husband, Zanders, last week after practice.”

I’m about to say something when Miller and Indy look at each other, hands over their hearts, crooning, “Hal,” as if that’s the most precious thing they’ve ever heard.

“Okay,” Rio cuts in. “I’m going to need my key back if you’re going to make things weird.”

“Definitely not making it weird.” Miller mimics zipping her lips, but then adds, “But first, can I ask, did Rio always bring the boombox everywhere? Like, all the time? And by all the time, yes, I’m referring toall the time.” She adds a wink for dramatic effect, her voice laced with insinuation.

“Miller Rhodes!” Kennedy smacks Miller’s shoulder with laughter.

“He didn’t need to bring it,” I tell her. “I had my own that he could use. Great taste in music even then. A lot of R&B during those times, if I remember correctly. And by those times, yes, I’m referring tothose times.”

Miller smiles devilishly at my quick response. “Oh, I like you.”

Rio shakes his head, but he’s got this soft, thankful smile on his lips that absolutelydoes notmake my stomach flip.

---