Rewind It Back (Windy City, #5)

by Liz Tomforde

“Does it feel strange to be back here?” I ask her gently. She shakes her head. “It feels good. A little sad because I miss that time in my life, but these nights were always my favorite memories.” “Want to make another one?” With my hand that’s not holding the blanket, I offer to help her sit, but when she slips her hand into mine, she takes a step closer to me, staying on her feet. Looking up, her eyes bounce between mine before she exhales the words as if desperately needing to get them off her chest. “I told your mom that I love you.” I can’t help the smile that slowly slides across my lips, or the way the skin around my eyes creases at the corners. Fuck, that feels good to hear. Of course, I already knew that Hallie loved me, but the words sound like music to my ears after not having the privilege of hearing them for six years. Like a form of music that I wish actually was a song, just so I could add it to our playlist. I slide my hand along her lower back, pulling her into me. “You don’t think you should’ve told me before you told my mom?” Hallie chuckles, picking up on the connection to the first time we said those words to each other, when I told Luke that I loved his sister before I told her. “I thought it was another one of those unspoken things.” Reaching up, she wraps her arms around my neck. “But it shouldn’t be. It should be said as much as possible. Because I love you, Rio. I have loved you since we were children, and I will love you until we’re old and...