Rewind It Back (Windy City, #5)

by Liz Tomforde

know what I’m asking, Rio.” Stevie joins us in the kitchen. “Oh, don’t mind me, I’m…” She looks around for something to do, a reason she’d need to be in the kitchen right now. “Helping with the wine.” “And I’m doing dishes,” Kennedy says, carrying a single plate to the sink. A single clean plate. “I’ll be honest here. I’m being nosy.” Miller hops onto the kitchen counter, taking a seat.

“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.”

You’re babysitting? As in you’re the adult in the situation?

“Sorry,” she says as soon as I open the door. I try to bite back my smile. “For which part? Breaking and entering or for eye-fucking me in my own house?”

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.

Lastly, I look to Indy, who is fucking crying…again. “Ind, really?” “I’m not crying! I’m fine. I’m just really happy that you’re happy.”

“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.”

“So honest today.” “Yeah, well I just got laid for the first time in six years, Hal. I’ll tell you anything you want to know as a thank you for fucking me.”

“How people ever thought you were an asshole, I’ll never understand.” Zanders chuckles. “Stevie girl, I hate to break it to you, but you were one of those people.”

“Wait,” Isaiah cuts in. “Easton Wilder? He’s a beast, and he’s only in his third season in the league. You’re living next to his sister?” Kennedy’s eyes go wide. “He’s amazing. Every time we play against him, I’m shocked by how good he is already.” “Okay.” Isaiah holds his hands out to stop her. “He’s not that great, Ken.” “I don’t know,” she teases. “He’s pretty great.” Isaiah takes her left hand and places it flat on the table. “Okay, just making sure it’s still there.” She laughs. “I haven’t taken off my wedding ring in three years, you caveman. Still your wife. Still fully obsessed with you.”

“Wren is great too,” I chime in. Rio chuckles. “Wren is great. She’s been an awesome neighbor and I’m going to miss her when she moves.” “She’s moving?” Ryan asks, outraged. “You had four years to tell us about her and her family and now she’s moving?” “Damn, Ry,” Indy teases. “Do you need him to get you an autograph or something?” “Yeah. Kinda.”

“Now that all her brothers are playing for their hometown, she wants to get back home too. I hope to visit her at some point, though.” Rio smiles at me. “We’ll definitely do that.” “Yeah,” Ryan agrees. “Maybe we should make that a group trip.”

“Don’t worry about all of us,” Stevie adds. “We’re all going to still love you.” Rio’s attention shifts to Ryan. “Is that true, Ryan?”

“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.”

“Okay, let’s stop romanticizing my mom’s love life. And God…” I grimace. “Don’t ever let me use the words ‘love life’ and ‘my mom’ in the same sentence ever again.”

“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.” My eyes go comically wide while everyone else stays perfectly silent. I’ve been waiting to hear him say that for years. “I don’t know, Ryan.” I toss my head from side to side, studying him from across the firepit. “It just didn’t hit the way I always imagined it would.” “Oh, get fucked!”

Miller chuckles. “It doesn’t help that Hallie told him she loved him about two seconds before Ryan did. Not sure how you’re supposed to top that.” “Yeah, well…” Ryan huffs. “I used to be the love of his life.” Hallie smiles at him. “Sorry about that, Ryan.” “Who would’ve thought?” Indy asks. “Rio found someone he loves more than my husband.”