Page 184 of Rewind It Back

She’s quiet for a long moment before she finally says, “I missed you, Hallie girl.”

“I missed you too.”

“Can I give you a hug?”

My smile blooms in an instant. “I’d love that.”

She stands the same time I do, rounding the table to hug me.

“I’m so sorry,” she repeats, holding on to me.

“I know. And I know you’re not my actual mom, but you always treated me as if you were. And I’m sorry that I hurt you.”

She exhales a long breath, and I do the same.

It feels like the final weight is lifted.

We unwrap ourselves after a long while, but she holds me at arm’s length. “Do you have anywhere you need to be tonight?”

“No. I only came here for you. My flight doesn’t leave until the morning.”

“Would you stay for dinner? If you’re up for it, I mean. I’d really love to hear about your life.”

“Yeah.” I can’t hold back my smile. “I’d love that.”

Chapter 43

Rio

Using my key, I unlock the front door of the house I grew up in.

But before I open it, I do my best to tamp down the anger that’s simmering in my veins.

Once I landed in Boston, I got a second text from my mom, asking if I knew what Hallie’s mother had said to her all those years ago when she accidentally caught our parents together. Of course I had no fucking clue, but now that I do, I can say with certainty, I’ve never actually felt hatred for a person up until now.

How fucking dare she put the burden of her choices on Hallie’s shoulders. How dare she use the person her daughter cared for most as a ploy to scare her into keeping that secret.

Shit.I’m getting amped up again, just as I was the whole drive over here, but I do my best to swallow it down as I step inside. Thankfully, when I catch Hallie’s eye as she’s turning around from the couch to find me dropping my bag in the entryway, that anger all but disappears.

Her jaw goes slack, and her hazel eyes widen in surprise. “What are you doing here?”

She stands, rounding the coffee table to meet me, practically slamming into my chest. It’s the best hit I’ve ever taken, and I instantly wrap her in a hug. Hallie has always been this grounding force in my life, and that’s no different now.

I exhale, holding her tighter. “I was at the airport, about to catch an early flight back to Chicago to surprise you for your birthday when I found out you weren’t there. Luckily, there was a flight to Boston that still had room for me.” I glance back into the living room. “Thanks for texting me, Ma.”

She looks over the couch with a knowing smile on her lips.

I’m still in a bit of disbelief from the first message that landed on my phone while I was about to go through security at the airport, telling me that Hallie was in Boston and that she and my mom had talked through some things.

I went to a desk agent and booked a new flight right then.

Hallie rests her chin on my chest as she looks up at me and a bit more of that sickening feeling dissipates. More centered. More grounded.

“You were coming home early for my birthday?” she asks.

“Hell yeah, I was. It’s my favorite day of the year.”

She huffs a laugh as I push her hair out of her face.

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