Rewind It Back (Windy City, #5)(38)

Great.

“Are you having a good time?”

“Well, it definitely just got better, but I could use a drink.”

“Yeah,” I exhale. “I could use one too.”

The rookie who scored his first goal tonight is making his rounds, already buzzing with alcohol when he throws an arm over Zee’s shoulders. “There’s my captain! What a goal, huh?”

“Yeah, Big Shot. Hell of a goal. How do we get drinks around here? Do we go up to the bar or do they come here?”

“Oh, they’ll come to the table.” He holds up his empty beer bottle. “I need another. And man.” He smacks Zee in the chest. “One of the bartenders here, she’s a smoke show. That’s why I come here all the time. I think tonight is the night I ask for her number. What do you think?”

Zee, Stevie, and I laugh at our too-excitable teammate. He reminds me of how I acted while I was trying to meet any and everyone in hopes of proving something to myself. Trying to prove that love did in fact still exist, even after Hallie and I broke up. Even after watching my parents’ divorce. I was convinced it was out there somewhere. I just had to find it.

“I say you go for it,” I chime in. “Use that first-goal confidence to your benefit.”

“Yeah.” He nods quickly, switching from having his arm slung around Zanders’ shoulders to mine. “Yeah, Rio, you’re right. Isn’t he so right?” He shifts his attention to Kylie. “You are so lucky, you know that? This guy, he’s the best!”

Our rookie squeezes into the space on the other side of her, sharing a seat with another of our teammates before stealing his beer.

Kylie leans into me.

Fuck it. I can’t do this tonight. I can’t even pretend to do this tonight. I just want to go home and see if Hallie might be home too.

I stand from my seat.

“You okay?” Stevie asks.

“I’m going to call it a night. See you both at family dinner on Sunday?”

“You’re leaving?” Kylie asks.

“I am. I . . .”

“He doesn’t feel well,” Zee adds for me.

I don’t love lying to the girl, but he’s not far off. I’ve been frustrated over Hallie ignoring my text all night, been sick thinking of her out with someone else. Been mad at myself for being so fucking rude about her going to my game with my friends.

“I hope you have a good night,” I say to finish.

Part of me wants to ask Zee to make sure she makes it home safely since her friend just bailed on her, but I also don’t want her to get the impression that I’m interested in more than that.

“Oh, the bartender is coming!” our rookie shouts before turning back to me and Zee. “Do you think I should shoot my shot now, or wait until the end of the night?”

I’m not staying to watch this possible train wreck go down. Instead, I grab my car keys from my pocket and take out my phone again, just to see if Hallie has responded yet.

Spoiler alert: she hasn’t.

“Oh, shit,” Zanders mutters under his breath from next to me.

“Does anyone need another?” a woman asks while I’m focused on my phone screen, but the voice is one I’d recognize anywhere.

When I shift my attention up, it locks on her, but she’s not looking at me. She’s busy taking my teammates’ orders on the other end of the table.

Hallie is standing there, a bright smile on her lips as she repeats orders back when they’re thrown in her direction, committing them to memory.

I fall back into my seat.

What the hell is she doing here?

Her short, wavy hair is half up in a cute, messy way. Her little button nose, and the freckles across it, scrunch up each time she smiles at one of my teammates. She’s wearing jeans that show off the curve of her hips, an apron tied around the small of her waist, and a simple black tee that may as well be painted on her body.

“I’ll take another, please!” Our rookie holds up an empty beer bottle to show her and that’s what finally brings her attention to our end of the table.

To me.

Then to the girl sitting at my side.

Then over to Zee and Stevie before her focus falls on me again and stays.

That smile has dropped into parted lips. Those shiny hazel eyes are now laced with panic.

Kylie decides that’s the moment she’s going to put her hand on my forearm. “Are you staying after all?” she asks.

Hell yes, I’m staying.

Hallie immediately looks away.

“It’s Hallie, right?” Zanders asks.

“Yes,” Hallie says to my friend. “Hey, Stevie. Good to see you again. What can I get you?”

“Hey!” Stevie smiles back at her. “I didn’t know you worked here.”

Stevie looks at me as if silently asking, did you know?

“Second job.” Hallie shifts on her feet, clearly uncomfortable. “So, what can I get for you?”

There’s a heavy pause as the awkwardness settles in. I sure as fuck don’t want Hallie waiting on me and I don’t think my friends do either.

“I’ll take a vodka cran,” Kylie says at my side, her entire body turned in my direction. But I’m not looking at her. I’m staring straight ahead at the girl next door and trying to figure out what the hell she’s doing here.