Page 64 of Rewind It Back

“So maybe let’s not tell him,” I add.

A tick of a smile twitches at the corner of her lips.

There’s a moment where we just sit there, holding each other’s hand. It feels like there’s an evident shift happening before I gesture to the road ahead of us. “We’re almost to the Holmes’ house.”

“Okay,” she whispers. “I suppose you need your hand back then.”

We let go of each other, slowly separating, and when we do, I click her seat belt to unfasten it. She looks up at me, confused, until I put my hand back in hers and pull inward, subsequently pulling her across the bench to sit directly next to me instead of leaving the middle seat unoccupied.

“Fasten your seat belt, Hal.”

She’s biting back a smile when she uses her right hand to wrap the seat belt over her lap and click it into place. I place my left hand on the top of the wheel while resting our intertwined hands on Hallie’s leg. Then I drive the rest of the short distance as cautiously as possible and a few miles below the speed limit.

“Thanks for the ride,” she says as I park in front of the Holmes’ house.

“Anytime.”

She gives my palm one last squeeze before sliding across the bench seat and opening the passenger door. “Meet you on the roof tonight?”

I smile softly at her. “See you there.”

My mom falls onto the couch next to me as I’m finishing up my homework.

“You guys got home late,” I say with a raised brow. “It’s a school night, young lady.”

“Nice try. It’s Friday.” She drops her head back on the couch behind her. “You know how it is when we get together with the Harts. We have too good of a time. That restaurant was delicious. You’ll have to come with us next time. Then Steph found this adorable little wine bar, so we may have stopped in and split a bottle. Or two.”

“Glad you guys had fun.”

She pats my leg. “We missed you three. Did you get Hallie to her babysitting job okay?”

I refocus on my homework, nodding.

“You’re a good friend to her, Rio.”

“Yeah.”

“And to Luke.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“But have you told him that you’re in love with his sister?”

That earns my attention. “Ma!”

“What?” she asks behind a fit of laughter. “Well, it’s true.”

“No, it’s not. It’s not like that between me and Hallie.”

It doesn’t feel right to say, especially after that moment in my truck today. But my mom tells Hallie’s mom everything and the last thing I need is for Luke to find out I’m crushing on his little sister.

“Oh,Tesoro.” She exhales deeply to stop her laughter. “Yes, it is. I see the way you look at her. I’m just surprised Luke hasn’t noticed it yet.”

I’m focused on my homework again and my voice is less defensive when I say, “It’s not like that.”

“Okay. You’re right. My bad for thinking that it was.”

I cautiously look over at her to find her smiling at me knowingly.

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