Page 139 of Rewind It Back

But I’ve never needed advice in the relationship department because for the last six years, I didn’t take anything past an introductory date.

Because no one else was the girl I had been in love with since I was twelve.

“Rio,” Kennedy says cautiously. “Do you want to talk about something?”

“I think I need some advice.”

Four way too excited smiles reflect back at me, like they’ve been waiting the entire duration of our friendship for this opportunity.

“But this stays here,” I continue. “There are two reasons why I never talked about Hallie before. One, is that when I left Boston, I tried my best to pretend that part of my life didn’t exist. And two, because I blamed Hallie for the reason I wanted to forget it all, and I didn’t want any of you to think less of her. But I’ve recently come to the realization that I was the one who fucked everything up, and I’m perfectly okay with you guys thinking less ofme. I need to get this off my chest because I don’t know where to go from here.”

Miller leans forward, chin in her hands as she listens intently. “Tell us everything.”

And so, I do.

“It all started when I was twelve. I was outside playing hockey when our new neighbors pulled into their driveway for the first time.”

I continue to tell them everything. How we met. How we became friends. How we spent her thirteenth birthday and every one after that. I tell them how we fell in love. How I viewed my parents’ relationship and how I thought I had found the same thing. How Hallie was and still is the only woman I’veeverloved.

I tell them why we kept it a secret from our families and how when we finally told them about our relationship, everyone but her brother had already figured it out.

I tell them about the summer I got drafted and about all the plans we made for our life here in Chicago. I tell them about my dad and what Hallie accidentally found out. I tell them about how angry I was that she didn’t tell me, and how broken my mom was afterward.

I tell them how fucked up my parents’ divorce made me. I tell them about the grudge I held for years over Hallie not telling me the truth. I tell them about how I essentially ran away, thinking I left everything behind, only to spend the next six years comparing every person I met to her.

Without giving details that aren’t mine to share, I tell them that her dad had been sick, and I only recently found out. I tell them the timeline of when she got the news and how it only added to the reason she didn’t tell me about my own dad, though I had already forgiven that detail before I knew anything else.

I tell them what she was left to deal with and how mad I am at myself for putting her in that position. And I tell them how I haven’t been able to stop thinking about how badly I fucked up and ruined the best thing I’ve ever had in my life.

But I don’t tell them the small things. The pieces that really make our storyours. The things that are special because only Hallie and I understand their significance.

“So yeah,” I finish. “That’s the whole story.”

The room is completely silent. Looking around, I find four gaping mouths unable to find any words to say.

And then there’s Indy...

“Indy.” I furrow my brows. “Are you crying?”

“Of course I am!” She wipes at her face. “I’m always crying, so I don’t know why you’re surprised. But that is the most beautiful story I’ve ever heard, and I just love love, okay?”

“Did you not hear the ending? I fucked it all up.”

The other three who aren’t crying, start laughing instead.

Stevie shakes her head, trying to contain her smile. “No, you lovable idiot. You didn’t.”

“Damn,” Miller exhales. “If Kai hadn’t already convinced me, that right there would’ve made me believe in love.”

“That story makes me want to go home and see Isaiah.” Kennedy leans her head on her sister-in-law’s shoulder. “Then ask him why he only pursued me for three years before we got married when he should’ve started thinking about me at the age of twelve.”

That finally makes me smile, which feels nice.

Indy keeps wiping at her face, cleaning herself up. “I always thought that the first time you brought someone around, we’d have to interrogate them or something. Figure out their intentions and decide if they were good enough for you. Like four overbearing and overprotective sisters, but...” She shakes her head. “I like this outcome so much more.”

I set my still full glass of wine on the coffee table in front of me. “I know you all thought I had literally no game, and that’s why I had never been with anyone the whole time I’ve lived here. But the reality is, I just wasn’t interested. I wanted to be. I really wanted to prove myself right that Hallie wasn’t the one, but every person I met further confirmed that she was.”

“Stop.” Stevie falls back onto the floor next to me. “I love hearing you talk like this.”

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