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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.
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. I know what I’m looking for because I had it once, and now the only girl I’ve ever loved is moving into the house next to mine. Again.
holding that over my head and let it go.” “I’m your mother. Your Italian mother, at that. It’s my job to guilt trip you,” she says. “So, you miss me, or what?”
A Sunday check-in is a must for her,
“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.”
“I’m going to do it!” His tipsy grin is way too big. “I’m going to go ask for her number.” “Hey, Rook?” He looks my way, so stupidly excited. “Yeah?” “Sit the fuck down.” “Yep.”
“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.
“Max, you’re the oldest. You’re in charge. Keep an eye on Uncle Rio for 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.”
I know you love your mom, we all love your mom, but you’re a grown-ass man now, Rio. At a certain point, our parents’ opinions can’t be more important than our own.”
“Yeah, it’s a little more complicated than that.” The front door swings open, ending our conversation. “There’s my boy!” my mom bellows, arms open wide and charging to wrap them around…Zanders.
I’m left with a gaping mouth, watching her give all her attention to my teammate and not her only child. “Wow. Okay.”
“Because it’s always been us.” With his knuckle, he tilts my chin up so I look at him. “Even when I thought I didn’t want it to be, I knew it was us. I sat there getting this permanently inked onto my skin, trying to convince myself I was only getting it as a reminder that love existed when the whole fucking time, I knew it only existed with
“Rio, playing for Boston is your childhood dream.” I shake my head. “You’re my childhood dream.”
“But the house. It’s a lot of upkeep and I worry about that as you get older.” “Excuse me?” “I mean, as you stay the exact same age of twenty-nine, just as you have been for my entire life.”
“Rio,” Indy calls from across the firepit, sitting on her husband’s lap. “Ryan has something he wants to tell you.” We all shift our attention his way. “Uh…” he stumbles, and Indy gives him an encouraging nod. “I just wanted you to know that…” He clears his throat. “I love you, man.”
