Rewind It Back (Windy City, #5)

by Liz Tomforde

“I pick a song when something cool or important happens so I can remember it. Then when I want to relive a moment, I rewind it back and start the song from the beginning.”

“Happy birthday, Hallie.” Her smile is so big I can see all her teeth. “Thanks, Rio.”

Soooooooo...I'm going to die reading this

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.

NOOOOOOOOOOOO

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.

Fucking dead

“The guy you were with tonight.” I slowly shift back to face her. “Who was he?” The set in her jaw is evident even from here. “Not your job to worry about.” Nodding, I turn back to my house, hands casually tucked in my pockets as I continue to walk. With my back to her, I make sure my words are loud enough for her to hear them. “Lose him.”

Teedleheedlehe

And yes, I’m a self-proclaimed mama’s boy and completely unashamed about it.

I love that sm

Because none of them know that there was a time that I was love-sick for her. 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.

“Which song are you playing first?” he asks. I take my time choosing a song from the track list because I know this is a moment I’ll want to remember, and whichever song I choose is going to be one I put on next year’s mixtape because I’ll want to rewind it back and play it on repeat for a long time to come.

“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 so fucking dead

The image of that fucking guy pops into my head. Him sitting next to her at my game. I’m not one to be violent off the ice, but everything in me was wishing the glass that was separating us would’ve magically disappeared, so I could’ve reached out and grabbed him by the goddamn neck.

I love that for you

Rio is standing there, beanie pulled down over his ears, joggers cinching at his ankles, right above his bare feet. 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.

TEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHHEH

I straighten my spine. “Can we get to work now, friend?” That knowing smile grows. “Sure. Come on in, friend.”

STOP WHAT I LOVE THEM SO MUCH IT'S NOT EVEN FUNNY

A few years ago, she was staying here for a couple of days, and her now husband gave me so much shit for not making her coffee correctly that I had to step up my game.

YESSS INDYYY

Because we’re friends. Professional, working friends. Friends who stare at each other’s mouths, but friends, nonetheless.

Hehe

“I’m going to go ask for her number.” “Hey, Rook?” He looks my way, so stupidly excited. “Yeah?” “Sit the fuck down.” “Yep.”

FUCKING DEAD

“Why are all you men so goddamn dramatic?”

FUCKING REALLLLLL

“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.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

“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.”

STOP I LOVE HIM SO MUCH

but she’s still wearing my shirt when she gets back to work and looks damn good in it.

Literally Ate with that

When I take our exit, I change my mind and get right back on the expressway. God knows I’m not going to get any sleep tonight anyway, so she may as well. I take note of the song that’s playing and keep on driving.

I am in love with this man

I’m not after only one thing from Hallie. I’m after everything with her,

“You’re a good friend to her, Rio.” “Yeah.” “And to Luke.” “Mm-hmm.” “But have you told him that you’re in love with his sister?” That earns my attention. “Ma!” “What?” she asks behind a fit of laughter. “Well, it’s true.”

I LOVE HIMMMMMMMM

As she does every year, she describes what was happening when she listened to it that made her want to rewind it back and relive that moment.

Every time it mentions the title I'm dead

while eating my body weight in Goldfish crackers.

Mood

“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.”

FUCKING PREACH

There’s enough room on his other side that he could move over a bit, but he doesn’t. He stays close. His thigh presses against mine.

Outside, standing between our houses, we hold each other longer than friends should. We hold each other longer than two people who claim to still be hurt by each other should.

“Hey, Rio?” Hands in his pockets, he perks up. “Yeah?” “I missed you too.”

“Rio, I’m your girlfriend. Why would I go to prom with someone else?”

😭❤️

“Hallie,” I soothe, circling her forearms to pull her hands away. “I wasn’t sure if you wanted to be, but yeah. Yes. Please. I want you to be my girlfriend. You have no idea how badly I want you to be my girlfriend.”

“You’re perfect the way you are. I don’t mind moving slow with you.”

…I’m so fucking single

“Because I’m going to kiss you and when we listen to next year’s playlist, I want this song to be on there so we can rewind it back however many times we want to and remember this.”

It’s messy and mistimed, and yeah, I think I hit her teeth at one point, but it’s also so fucking perfect. And eventually, with a little practice, we figure it out together.

“No jersey?” I ask, nodding towards her colorful sweater. “Not until you tell me why you changed your number.” She lets that statement hang to see if I take the bait, but I don’t. “And besides, you’ve got plenty of other people wearing your jersey in here.” I hold eye contact. “Kind of only care about one.”

I turn it up and let “Kiss Me” by Sixpence None the Richer blast through the speakers.

SCREAMING LITERALLY MY FAVORITE SING EVER WHAT

“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.”

*laughing maniacally and kicking my feet*

We were the ones who taught each other how to do it. It’s second nature at this point.

I’m so lonely *exasperated sigh*