Rewind It Back (Windy City, #5)

by Liz Tomforde

Fine. Rio, you back or what? Me Your care and concern for me hold no bounds. Honey, I’m home! Ryan I hate this. Me I know. The distance was hard for me too, Ryan. Ryan I’m leaving this group chat.

She used to steal all my thoughts. She used to occupy my entire existence. I almost forgot what that felt like. I’ve spent six years subconsciously comparing every date to her. Comparing their laugh to hers. Their kindness to hers. Their confidence to hers. Their taste in music to hers.

“Well, maybe that was the first time you were told, but I know for a fact it wasn’t the first time someone liked you.”

But that’s not what has my mouth hanging open. It’s the fully unbuttoned flannel cuffed around his elbows that he’s wearing without another shirt underneath. Like a hot lumberjack.

“You sure look good in my shirt for not being mine.” “Get fucked, DeLuca.” I smile as I open the door. “Would love to. You just let me know when and where, Hart.”

Stevie plops a bag on my kitchen island, quickly explaining all the shit she brought in case the kids need it. Some books. Some stuffies. Some snacks, including little crustless PB&Js that I’m for sure going to eat myself.

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.

“You single, Hal?” I finally give him the long-awaited answer, nodding to tell him yes. “Good.” He takes a slow predatorial step towards me, tone sharp and leaving no room for question. “Because we aren’t fucking friends.”

He smells incredible. He smells like him. He tastes delicious. Just as I remember. He feels strong and in control, with firm but measured pressure on my throat.

Um ma’am what do you mean by he smells like him? OF COURSE HE SMELLS LIKE HIM. What do you expect? That he smells like a completely different person?

In all the times we’ve kissed before, he’s never kissed me like this. Like it’s the first time he’s come up for air in years. It’s frantic. It’s full of longing. But he has no idea how much I’ve longed for this. How I spent most of the past six years wanting exactly this. Wanting him.

That’s probably true. If I’m remembering correctly, you did always know exactly what I liked. His lack of subtlety has my mouth gaping open because we both know he’s not referring to interior design.

We’re friends now, even though he kissed me senselessly and now I’m the only one trying to hold up the professional part of our working agreement.

Gurl, you and him are NOT friends

because I do know what I’m doing. I have only ever loved one person in my entire life and she’s here and fuck it, I don’t care about the rest. I want to know if this could be something.

“Well, maybe that’s why I’m sleeping like this. Keeping a safe distance.” “I’m not going to bite, Hal. Well, unless you ask me to.”

I’d slip my tongue in your mouth so you could see how fucking good you taste and why I’m so goddamn addicted. Maybe then you’d understand why I’ve been starving for you for six years now.”

She wraps her arms around my neck, parting her lips and letting me kiss her deeper, harder, more urgently. “That was adorable, you two!” Wren shouts from somewhere inside. “But if you’re going to finally fuck, can you do it at Rio’s house? I need to study.”

My bra isn’t anything special, plain white with a touch of lace over the cups, but Rio is watching me like I’m unwrapping a gift he’s been asking for his entire life and is finally about to get his hands on.

“I was staring because I can’t get over how innocent you look in white when we both know that you’re not.” I hum. “That’s your fault too.”

I can’t. I’m speechless. Because how am I supposed to speak when my eyes are glued to what is essentially my last name, tattooed as a heart, inked over his actual heart?

I was his first and I fully plan on being his last.

You go queen. Here you dropped this 👑

“I’m too loud.” “I don’t give a fuck. This is my house. We aren’t hiding shit here. Scream all you want. I want to hear what I’m doing to you.”

The noises coming out of this woman’s mouth are going to haunt me in my dreams in the best way possible. I’ll be adding this soundtrack when I’m on the road again and back to fucking my own fist.

“I’ve spent a lot of time imagining and remembering what you can do with two hands.” “Don’t flirt with me, Hart. Not when you’re about to leave me all day.”

“But in case it needs to be said out loud… Yes, Hallie Hart, you are my girlfriend. Though, you should know, there’s a good chance I’ll be changing both that title and that last name one day.”

“Rio, playing for Boston is your childhood dream.” I shake my head. “You’re my childhood dream.”