Rewind It Back (Windy City, #5)(89)

All my fear, stress, and exhaustion begin to bubble to the surface in a way I’ve never let it, just from seeing Rio standing in the doorway of the hospital waiting room. He’s concerned, that’s evident in his expression, but it’s also mixed with a bit of relief and a sense of protectiveness.

What is he doing here? But also, can he get to me a little quicker?

I must be in shock because I’m telling my feet to move, to meet him partway, but I’m not going anywhere. I’m frozen in place. But my disbelief doesn’t seem to slow him down, because in three quick strides he has his arms wrapped tightly around me, pulling me into his chest.

“Are you okay?” he asks quietly, lips close to my ear.

Apparently, that shock has translated into an inability to speak as well.

“What do you need?” he continues, burrowing his face against the nape of my neck.

This.

I need this. My body knows it too, as it melts into him, letting go of all the tension and stress I’ve been carrying. Because what I’ve always needed is this.

Taking a deep breath, I inhale his scent, finally coming to when I wrap my arms around his waist and hold on. I grip his flannel shirt in my fists, bury my face against his chest, and close my eyes.

“Hallie, baby,” he whispers. “I’ve got you.”

He has literally no idea what’s going on, but still he holds me, one hand slipping into my hair, palm cupping my head as he keeps me hidden against his chest, like he’s some kind of shield that could protect me.

Maybe he could.

I have so many questions, and I’m sure he does too. I pull back slightly to look up at him, those green eyes boring into mine. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look so concerned.

“What are you doing here?” I finally ask, swallowing down the emotion in my throat.

“Wren called me.”

Wren, my roommate, who also asked me to share my location with her before I started my drive.

“But your game—”

“My job, you mean. I took the day off. I told them I had a family emergency. My agent booked me the first flight out of Boston.”

Family emergency.

“This game is too important for you to miss.”

“Hallie, I couldn’t care less about that game right now. It’s one of eighty-two.”

Which is true, but this one felt more important than the rest.

He runs the pad of his thumb over my cheekbone, fingers still threaded through my hair, and eyes searching mine. “Are you okay?”

That question alone makes me want to cry because he’s not prying for answers to what’s going on. He’s not upset that I didn’t tell him I was here or hesitate to miss his game.

“Am I allowed to say no?”

A faint smile ghosts his lips. “Yeah, Hal. You can say no.”

I hear someone shift on their feet behind me, only to remember my brother and his wife are here.

Rio notices too, glancing over my shoulder. “Luke.”

My brother’s tone is equally dry. “Rio.”

“Come with me.” Slipping my hand into his, I lead us out of the waiting room and into the hallway where we could have some privacy. People pass by us, but it still feels more private than allowing my brother to listen in on this conversation.

“What can I do?” he asks.

“Nothing. Everything is okay.” I throw my thumb over my shoulder. “We just found out. I’m sorry you came all this way for nothing. Everything is okay.”

His eyes bounce between mine. “But you’re not.”

No. No, I’m not okay. I’ve been on an adrenaline high all day, driving here as quickly as I could, waiting for the news. And now that I’ve got it, I feel the come down fast approaching.

I shake my head to tell him no.

As soon as I admit that, my eyes instantly burn with tears, which feels so ridiculous because everything is fine.

“Come here.” His voice is hardly a whisper as he pulls me into him again.

“I don’t know why I’m crying,” I blurt out as the tears start falling in steady streams.

He rocks with me, rubbing a soothing palm down my back and letting me speak.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I never cry over this kind of stuff. I’m just tired is all.”

“It’s okay to be tired.” His voice goes soft. “It’s okay to be scared too.”

The permission has more tears falling. Because yeah, that’s exactly how I’ve spent the last six years, and I’ve never been able to tell someone.

I’m not sobbing or shaking or anything like that. I’m just quietly soaking his shirt with my tears, letting it out, and it feels . . . good.

“I’ve never had anyone here before,” I say, hidden against his chest. “I’m just emotional over it, I guess.”

Rio’s hand halts along my spine. “You should’ve had me.”

The door behind me opens, and I look back to find Luke popping his head out into the hallway. “Dad wants to see you.”

“Okay. I’ll be right there.”

Facing Rio again, I see his calming smile before he uses his thumbs to clean up the tear streaks under my eyes. “Take your time. I’m not going anywhere.”

Words aren’t coming to me today, so again I nod, feeling too overwhelmed by him, by this day. He has absolutely no idea what’s going on, and he seems okay with that. He’s okay with just being here for me.