Page 100 of Rewind It Back

“That’s the one,” I decide.

“Rio—”

“Hal, I don’t really know what the hell I’m looking at here, but you do. And you know I’ve always loved your style, so this really isn’t all that hard of a decision. If you want that one, then I do too.”

“Rio,” she sighs.

I prepare myself for her to tell me something to the effect of “stop designing your house with me in mind” or “stop trying to dig up old memories.”

But what she says instead is, “This could’ve been an email.”

There’s an ease between us, and it feels light and fun, the way it used to. I missed this. This comfortability and compatibility. I missed her wearing my clothes. Missed us doing absolutely nothing together. I’ve never been known the way she knew me, and it’s becoming evident that hasn’t changed one bit.

“Can I ask you something?” Sitting back, she crosses her legs under her, facing me on the couch.

“Of course.”

“Why’d you want me to come here? To meet you on the road.”

“Truthfully?”

She nods, bottom lip slipping between her teeth.

I think of giving her the whole and complete answer but instead, settle with a partial but true one. “Because I wanted to see you. That’s all.”

“Okay.”

She finds my hand on the couch between us, bringing it back to rest on her leg. She softly toys with my knuckles. She traces the roadmap of veins on the back before finally, she finds a bit of bravery to slide her fingers between mine.

Hallie stares at our intertwined hands for a long while as if she wants the reminder of what it looked like, and that’s when I see them.

Her nails.

How I didn’t notice them before, when she was typing on the computer or scarfing down the room service, I have no clue.

I take her hand, positioning her fingernails in my direction. “Hallie Hart. Ten different colors?” My smile is stupid big. “Talk about a throwback.”

“Stop.” She laughs, pulling her hand away.

“When did you do that?”

“Yesterday.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. Because I always used to, I guess, and I’ve been feeling more like myself again lately.” She looks up at me. “For the first time in a long time.”

I slip my hand into hers again, letting our fingers lace. “Yeah. I completely get what you mean.”

Chapter 21

Hallie

The time glaring back at me from the alarm clock on the nightstand reads 1:48 in the morning.

There’s absolutely no reason for me to be awake. I didn’t have to work a late shift, my travel day was easy, and this hotel bed is one of the most comfortable I’ve ever laid on.

The only reason I can assume that I’m still awake is the man down the hall I can’t stop thinking about.

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