Page 77 of Rewind It Back

“You drive me insane, you know that?”

“Hmm,” he hums. “That makes two of us, love.”

The old term of endearment gives me pause, but it doesn’t affect him one bit. He simply grabs a handful of popcorn and tosses it back, eyes locked on the movie.

It feelsgood. Comfortable and easy, the way it always used to.

“I’m glad you’re here,” he whispers a few moments later. “I’m sorry for stealing your Saturday night.”

“No, you’re not.”

I peek at him out of the corner of my eye, and his smile turns so proud. “Yeah, you’re right. I’m not sorry at all.”

“Thanks, Hallie,” Indy whispers as she peels a sleeping Iverson out from under Rio’s arm. “We appreciate you helping him.”

“Anytime.” I keep my voice quiet to not wake the hockey player passed out asleep with his head partway on my thigh.

Indy is the last out of the house after everyone picked up their sleeping kids, but she stops at the door, turning back my way. “We’re having family dinner at my house tomorrow night after Ryan’s game and before Rio and Zanders hit the road for most of the month. You should come. Everyone will be there.”

Everyoneis referring to Zanders and the girls I’ve already met before, along with her husband, Ryan, and the Rhodes brothers who I met tonight.

I glance down at my lap, making sure Rio is still asleep and not listening in on this conversation. “I’m not sure he would want me going to something like that with all his closest friends but thank you for the invite.”

“I don’t care what he wants,” Indy says with an edge of sass. “It’s my house. I can invite anyone I want to invite.”

I chuckle. “Thank you, but regardless, I have a shift at my second job. I work nights at a bar downtown.”

Indy readjusts her sleeping son on her shoulder. “Oh, I heard about that! Service industry?” She blows out a breath. “Been there. Done that. You’re a saint, Hallie. Killer tips, though, huh?”

Her response takes me by surprise. I guess I expected Rio’s friends, who are all professional athletes or married to one, would judge me for being a bartender. It’s a hard job, dealing with the general public, working late hours, and constantly being on your feet. It’s nowhere near as glamorous as telling people I’m employed by a luxury interior design firm.

“Yeah. Exactly. Great tips.”

“Next time we have a parents’ night out, we’ll have to come see you. And family dinner, whenever you’re free on a Sunday, we’d love to have you.”

I nod with a smile. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Thanks again!” She closes the front door behind her.

It’s just after nine p.m. and Rio is sleeping perfectly fine. I try not to let myself overthink why that may be. We were crammed on the couch with so many bodies, so yeah, his head ended up partially on my thigh, where it still is now, but it was purely due to lack of space.

He looks so peaceful, so content, like his brain finally shut up and allowed him a moment of peace. His dark hair is falling over his forehead and covering his eyes, so without thinking, I use my fingertips to skim his curls out of the way.

He hums.

Sleeping like this, he looks exactly like the boy who I found asleep on my floor more nights than not. And spending time with him tonight felt exactly like it used to, with no anger or hostility between us.

It was nice, but the kids are gone now, so it’s time for me to leave too.

I scoot out from under him, using my hand to cradle his head, and wedging a pillow below him in place of my thigh.

He stirs for a moment, reaching out for me, but I’m far enough from the couch now that he doesn’t find me and instead, slips his hand under the pillow and falls right back asleep. I quietly cover him with a blanket before leaving out the front door and softly closing it behind me.

Inhaling a deep breath, I let the crisp winter air fill my lungs and clear my head.

I missed him.

Plain and simple, I missed Rio DeLuca. All tonight did was continue to prove that to me. I missed driving with him in his truck. I missed listening to music with him. I missed those seemingly insignificant moments, the ones where I look back and realize how important they were to me. The way tonight felt. Laughing with him again. Smiling with him again.

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