Rewind It Back (Windy City, #5)(122)

“My first official project, yes. Outside of redoing my childhood bedroom a million times growing up.”

I watch Rio smile to himself as he chews his dinner.

“That house on my account is my roommate’s home. Actually, Ryan, you might know her brother. Cruz Wilder.”

He pauses with his fork midway to his mouth. “Cruz Wilder?”

“Yeah, he plays basketball too.”

“I’m sorry, what?” He places his fork back on his plate, turning to Rio. “Your neighbor is Cruz Wilder’s sister?”

“Yeah.” He shrugs casually. “He owns the house. She’s living in it while finishing school.”

Ryan’s eyes go impossibly wide. “You’re telling me you’ve been living next to Cruz Wilder’s sister for . . .”

“Four years.”

Ryan laughs but it’s laced with disbelief. “You’ve lived next to Cruz Wilder’s sister for four years and you’ve never once mentioned it? Those brothers are huge names in their own respective sports. The oldest Wilder is going to be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame one day, and the youngest brother was the MLB Rookie of the Year a few years back.”

“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.”

Isaiah wraps his arm over her shoulders. “Hell yeah, you are.”

“The Wilder family is West Coast sports royalty,” Zanders says. “They’re all playing in the same city now, close to where they grew up, I think. It’s a huge fucking deal.”

“You’ve been living next to their sister this whole time and never mentioned it?” Kai shakes his head with a laugh. “And you’ve spent all these years fanboying over Ryan?”

“Well yeah, he’s Ryan fucking Shay.” Rio turns to him. “Don’t worry, honey. Cruz Wilder will never be you.”

“But he basically is. He’s the West Coast version of me.” It sounds like Ryan is fanboying now. “I’m a huge fan of his, even when I have to pretend I’m not a few times a year when we play each other.”

“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.”

“Where’s she moving?” Kennedy asks.

“Back home to Northern California,” I tell her. “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.”

Miller cackles. “Fanboy Ryan Shay might be my new favorite.”

“Back to the house,” Isaiah cuts in. “Are we having a housewarming party or what? With you most likely moving this summer, we should enjoy the new house while you’ve still got it.”

The entire room goes silent, and Kennedy smacks him in the shoulder.

“What?” Isaiah asks with an edge of innocence. “We all know what’s going on. I don’t know why we’re pretending like we don’t.”

“Fuck it. We can talk about it.” Rio sits back in his seat. “Boston is going to make an offer after the season ends as long as I don’t re-sign with Chicago, and it’s my childhood dream to play for them.”

When he looks in my direction, I give him a wink, telling him I’m on board.

“And I’m sorry I didn’t say something before,” he continues. “But leaving you guys isn’t exactly something I’ve been stoked to talk about.”

“Rio, you’ve got to do what’s best for you,” Zanders says. “I think we all understand the appeal of playing for our hometown team.”

Rio nods.

Kai sits forward, forearms on the table. “And it’s not like you’re going to leave and that’s it. You’re going to be back here to see Hallie, right?”

“Of course.”

“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?”

The tension dissipates with a laugh from everyone, thanks to Rio’s futile attempts to get the basketball superstar to admit he loves him.