Page 73 of Rewind It Back

Another text drops onto the screen, quickly followed by more.

Rio:I’m trying to pick up my game and thought that was better than, “Hey.” Open to any suggestions that’ll earn me a response.

Rio:Maybe you’re working tonight in which case, feel free to ignore me.

Rio:Actually, don’t ignore me. I’m too needy for that.

Rio:If I’m coming off desperate for you to text me back, that’s because I am.

“And she’s holding back a smile, people,” my dad announces.

I roll my eyes. “I gotta go.”

“Tell Rio I said hello. Love you, Hallie girl.”

“Love you too, Dad.”

Exiting the phone call, I find my text messages.

Me:What kind of bribe are we talking about here?

Rio:Offering bribes will get a pretty girl to text me back. Noted.

Me:Stop flirting and tell me what you’re offering, DeLuca.

Rio:Homemade lattes delivered to your doorstep for an entire week if you come over and help me babysit tonight.

Me:You’re babysitting? As in you’re the adult in the situation?

Rio:Right? Four kids, Hal. This seems dangerous. I need you.

I don’t let myself overthink that last sentence too much or recall all the intimate moments in which he had said that to me before.

Rio:Please get over here. You have way more babysitting experience than me.

Though my instincts are screaming at me to tell him to fend for himself, I can’t.

I don’t want to.

Me:Make it a month of latte deliveries and you’ve got yourself a deal.

Rio:Done. Front door is unlocked. Let yourself in.

Yes, I know this is a bad idea. I shouldn’t want anything to do with him, yet for some reason I’m quick to stand from the couch and bolt out the front door before I can come to my senses, before I can overthink the fact that this is going to be our first time spending any real time together outside the parameters of work.

But as soon as I’m outside, I’m stopped in my tracks, frozen on the front porch, because parked right there on the street is a car.

My car.

I didn’t deal with my car today because, frankly, I didn’t know what I was going to do. I wanted a day to relax after a busy work week and pretend I didn’t have responsibilities that needed to be taken care of. I had planned to figure it out tomorrow.

How the hell did someone get into it? I have the one and only key on my key ring.

I pull out my keys to confirm, only to find the ring sans the one for my car. And that’s when I realize. Rio stole my car key while I was sleeping in his truck last night, didn’t he?

Relieved is the initial reaction, but that’s quickly followed by embarrassment because this situation only acts as a reminder that Rio has enough money to throw at any problem that may come up while I’m struggling to buy groceries.

Don’t get me wrong, if this were anyone else, without all our history, I’d happily let them help. But with Rio, it just feels sad. Like he left and I couldn’t make it on my own, so he wants to help now because he feels bad.

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