Rewind It Back (Windy City, #5)(91)

“I’m here.”

Mr. Hart rolls his eyes playfully. “About damn time.”

I chuckle. “Yeah. I deserve that.”

“Dad!”

“What? I’m dying. You expect me to hold my tongue?”

“Jesus, Dad. You’re not dying. Your doctor told us that you’re perfectly fine. Dehydrated but fine. Though I should ask her if that fever wiped out any filter you may have had.”

He pats his daughter’s hand. “Hallie girl, we’re all dying.”

“You’re so morbid sometimes, I swear.”

I have absolutely no problem being the punching bag here, especially because the energy feels light and easy. The opposite of what I originally walked into in the waiting room. Hallie is smiling and teasing after having a cry, and I fucking love that.

“Dad, Rio has a long drive home, so we should let him get going.” Hallie looks at me. “Oh. I drove your truck here. I probably should’ve mentioned that.”

My smile goes soft as I look at her. “I was hoping you did.”

“Or are you flying back? I can drive your car back in a few days.”

I didn’t really think that far ahead. I was desperate to get to her, but now that things seem settled here and she’s okay, I should get back to Chicago for our game tomorrow night.

“Rio, are you okay to drive back tonight?” Mr. Hart asks.

“Yeah, I’m good.”

“Good. Take Hallie home with you.”

“Dad—”

“As you said, the doctor told us that I’m fine. You’re going back to Chicago with him. You need to get back to your life. I’m not your responsibility anymore.” He looks to me. “Rio, you make sure she goes with you, okay? And be careful with my girl.”

That phrase feels too familiar. This situation feels like a recurring dream, and my throat goes tight when I realize he said the exact same thing to me the very first time I drove Hallie home.

Nodding, I swallow. “Always, sir.”

He smiles at me. “I knew I always liked you.”

“All right, Dad. No need to kiss his ass. He’s not that great.”

I laugh. “Yeah, I kind of thought you would have hated me by now, Mr. Hart.”

“Nope,” Hallie cuts in. “Dad, I don’t think you’ve missed more than a handful of Rio’s games since he’s been in the league, huh?”

He lifts a brow. “We both know I wasn’t the only one watching.”

I tilt my head as I look at her. “Oh, is that so?”

“Big hockey fan,” she says. “Couldn’t care less about the players themselves, though.” Hallie shoots me a smile to tell me she’s full of shit and does, in fact, care about one.

Mr. Hart grabs her hand again. “Hallie, go home. I love you but you need to go home. This isn’t on you anymore. I’m perfectly fine.”

I watch her watch him, as if she’s searching for any sign that he isn’t okay, before she eventually gives in. “Okay. But I’m going to call you tomorrow and check in.”

“I’m looking forward to it.” He nods towards the door. “Go say goodbye to your brother. I want to talk to Rio for a minute.”

“Dad, please don’t.”

“Dying man, remember?”

Her attention darts to me, an apology written all over her face.

I shake her off, silently telling her I’m fine and that I can handle this. “I’ll meet you out there.”

She bends down to hug her dad before giving my arm a squeeze on the way out of the door. I close it behind her, giving us privacy, grabbing a chair in the corner and bringing it to his bedside so I can take a seat.

“You’re very lucky,” he starts.

“I know. I know I made some mis—”

“No, I mean you’re both very lucky. To have found each other again. Don’t throw it away this time.”

“I won’t. I’m trying not to, at least. Hallie’s not ready to forgive me, which I understand. I have no issue being patient and trying to make up for the years we missed.”

“She’s already forgiven you, Rio. But those years you didn’t see each other were not easy for her, so I don’t blame her for taking her time in letting you know that.” He eyes me for a moment. “Do you know why I’m here?”

I could make an educated guess, seeing how many signs I saw plastered on the walls of this building. This hospital is one of the top cancer research facilities in the country.

“I don’t know for certain.”

“I’m in remission from blood cancer. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. My second remission, actually. Today was thankfully only a scare, but that’s what our past six years have been consumed by. Me and this disease.”

The confirmation makes my stomach drop. It’s a weird mixture of relief that he’s not currently sick, and guilt knowing that he was. Not only because this man was such a kind person in my life growing up, but because Hallie loves him so fucking much that imagining how scared she’s probably been makes me physically ill.

“I need you to take care of her,” he continues. “Because she’s spent so many years taking care of me, but I couldn’t do the same for her. I don’t know that I’d still be here if it weren’t for the sacrifices she made for me.”