Rewind It Back (Windy City, #5)

by Liz Tomforde

She used to steal all my thoughts. She used to occupy my entire existence. I almost forgot what that felt like.

That thing I’ve been looking for since I moved to Chicago? That connection? That one person some search their entire lives to find? I had already found her when I was twelve years old. At least, I thought I had.

Because I didn’t tell him the truth all those years ago. He doesn’t want to forgive me for it. Well, I don’t want to forgive him either.

No one here knows I’ve been in love before. No one knows that though I had a front-row seat to watch them all find their person over the years, I had found mine long before any of them. At least, I thought I did.

There was a time when my absolute favorite thing in the world was to simply be with her.

“What I’m saying is that for so long, I tried to pretend as if we didn’t happen because it hurt to think about you. It hurt to talk about you. And now, I can’t stop thinking or talking about the past because you’re here and it feels nostalgic.”

“He’s never called me that before. I think he thought you were some random guy so he was pretending to mark his territory.” “Yeah, well you’re not his, so tell him to keep his hands to himself too.” Her eyes drop to my mouth. “I’m not yours either.” We’ll see.

“Ariel!” Taylor supplies as she and Max join the other two on the couch. “Absolutely not, Tay.” Rio’s brows are pinched. “Spoiler alert, but she gives up her voice because she thought some random dude was hot. We’re strong independent women here. The only princess movies we’re going to watch are the ones where they realize they don’t need a man.”

didn’t give you the entire answer then. But if I were to give you the whole truth, I’d tell you that even though I may have gone six years without seeing you, the thought of going two weeks now feels impossible. And no, I don’t have the answer for why that is, but I want a chance to figure it out.”

I never forgot him. I never forgot us. And apparently, neither did he.

She liked me before anyone else ever did. She saw my potential when I couldn’t. She doesn’t give a shit about my job and that alone is refreshing.

“But you’re not just a part of my life. You’re the center of it. So, if something isn’t fitting around us, that piece needs to change, not you.”

“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.”

We are rare. What we have is rare and I’m going to spend the rest of my life protecting it.

I always wanted what I once had.

“Friends are the family you choose, and I’ve got to say, I’ve got the best family a guy could ask for.”