Page 159 of Rewind It Back

I lift my shirt up over my head, leaving me in only my bra for a moment.

“Fuck me,” Rio groans from next to me.

I can’t help but laugh. “Let me change real quick before we get to the arena.”

Slipping my arms and head through his hoodie, I situate my new jersey over it, pulling the hood out of the neck hole. Then I unzip my work jeans and push them down my hips.

“Maybe I could be late.”

Looking over, I find him fixated on my partially naked body, hooded eyes, parted lips.

“You need to focus on your game,” I tell him as I pull the checkered denim on.

“I don’t care about my game right now.”

I zip and button them, fully covering myself. “Well, you should. This is a big one. You missed your last Boston game because of me. You need to do well tonight, right?”

He offers me a sweet smile and a nod. “Yeah, but I’m glad you’ll be there.”

I smile right back at him. “Me too.”

He laces his hand with mine for the short drive.

I can tell he’s mulling something over in his mind, and he hesitates before finally asking, “Could you ever see yourself living in Boston again?”

I knew this conversation was going to happen at some point, so I’ve already been thinking over my answer to his question.

“One day, yes.”

He quickly looks in my direction, utterly surprised, before refocusing on the road.

“If that’s where you’re going to be, then one day, I’ll be there too,” I continue. “I’m not going to lie to you and say I’ll be ready to move before your next season starts. I’m just beginning my career here and I have a huge opportunity at this design firm. Plus, this is my first time living away from my dad since he got sick, so knowing I’m within driving distance is comforting. But I think eventually, yeah, I’d feel okay being farther away.”

I can see his wheels spinning as he nods.

“But we’re going to be fine either way,” I tack on. “After everything we’ve been through to make it back to this point, a bit of distance while you’re in season isn’t going to break us. You need to chase your dreams, like I’m chasing mine.”

His lips tilt into an understanding smile. “I just don’t want the idea of chasing my dreams to mean that I’m losing you again.”

“It doesn’t. I promise.”

He lifts my hand to his lips to leave a kiss there.

“Since you’re coming early with me,” he says, “there’s a room where all the players’ families hang out pre-game and again post-game. It’s right outside of our locker room. I’m going to take you there. All the other wives and girlfriends will be there, and Stevie will make sure to show you how it all works.”

That isnotwhat I was expecting. I kind of thought I’d have a ticket with a seat number that I could sneak into while I waited for the game to start.

As if he can read my mind, Rio asks, “Does that make you feel nervous?”

“A little bit.”

His voice is soft. “Why does that make you feel nervous, Hal?”

“I don’t know.”

“Yes, you do.”

I huff a small laugh because what’s the use in lying to this guy? He knows me too well.

---