Rewind It Back (Windy City, #5)(139)

“When are you going to do it?” Zee asks.

“Tonight, after you all leave.”

Ryan takes a swig of his drink. “And how?”

“I’m going to take her on the roof of the house and do it there.”

All four of them look at me like I’ve lost my goddamn mind, but I swear, if I would’ve told their wives my plan instead of them, I’d be rewarded with resounding approval from all four of those women.

And they wonder why I like attending girls’ night.

But I don’t feel the need to explain the significance of that proposal location to anyone else. She’ll understand it. Hallie and I fell in love on the roof that connected our parents’ homes. I’m going to ask her to spend forever with me on the roof of ours.

Max Rhodes comes padding over to his dad, huffing and puffing from all his running around. He chugs from a straw of a water bottle that Kai holds out for him, and without saying a word, turns and runs back to continue playing with the other kids.

Four of them—Max, Taylor, Navy, and Iverson—are running around chasing one another, but Emmy is upstairs sleeping in one of the spare rooms. Kai’s phone is sitting on the armrest of his chair with the baby monitor connected and displayed on the screen.

“Are you and Hallie going to add to that crew?” Ryan asks, nodding towards the kids.

“Hopefully, one day. But she’s spent so long taking care of someone else, I want to make sure Hallie gets to do everything she wants to do before we start trying. But yes, eventually, we want to.”

Zee clinks his bottle with mine. “Good man.”

The girls are gathered on the back deck, talking and laughing with each other. Hallie joins the other four after taking her family on a house tour, and as soon as she does, Miller wraps her arm over her shoulders and pulls her into the conversation as if she’s been a part of it the whole time.

She looks so at ease, like she’s known them for so much longer than she has.

Hallie just fits, but that’s no surprise. She’s always been outgoing and friendly, and now, I’m even more thankful she is who she is. Jumping into a very well-established group of nine friends would’ve been intimidating for just about anyone else, but not her. We were always meant to find our way back to each other, and she was always meant to be a part of this group.

There’s not a world in which I could imagine anything different.

I watch as each of my friends catch their partner’s attention from across the yard. I’ve witnessed this happening for years. This silent checkin in a crowded room. A soft smile before continuing their conversation. A discreet wink. A little smirk.

I’ve constantly felt like the third wheel catching a private moment I wasn’t supposed to be a part of, but at the same time, it was something I longed for in my own life.

I’ve always wanted what my friends had.

I always wanted what I once had.

With my attention locked on the group of women, Hallie is mid-conversation when those hazel eyes find mine from across the yard. She holds eye contact for a long while, still talking, still fully engaged, and when the smile lifts on my mouth, it reflects on hers.

She’s everything I’ve ever wanted, everything I’ve been looking for. Everything I was so desperate to find because I had already found her once and knew she was missing from my life.

The five of them migrate our way, and though they could not be more different from one another, they get along so well.

Hallie slides onto my lap, while the others find their way to their person.

Then it’s the ten of us. How it was always supposed to be.

The sun has set, but there’s still enough of a glow to see the contented smile on Hallie’s lips. “I could get used to this life,” she says quietly.

“It looks good on you.”

Her hazels sparkle. “I love you.”

I chuckle because damn, I’m never going to get over hearing her say that to me. “Hallie baby, I love you.”

“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!”

Laughter bounces off everyone in the group.

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.”

I press a kiss to Hallie’s shoulder before wrapping my arms around her middle. “Ryan, I love you too, man. Less than her, but I still love you. I love all of you.” I look around at the entire group. “Friends are the family you choose, and I’ve got to say, I’ve got the best family a guy could ask for.”