Rewind It Back (Windy City, #5)(96)

Playing a division one sport may as well be a full-time job on top of being a full-time student, so Rio’s free time was limited all year. I knew how this transition year was going to go, but knowing something doesn’t make it any easier to accept.

It was hard. I was lonely, and it’s not like I could hop on a plane and go see him. I had my own school schedule to stay on top of, not to mention the little detail hanging over us that neither one of our families knows we’re together.

He’s been especially off these last few days, blaming it on his finals schedule, but I don’t know. I’m trying to not overthink the distance or that he still hasn’t told my brother about us, but I’m human and it’s difficult not to.

He’ll be home later this week, so I suppose I’ll find out soon.

Closing my bedroom door behind me, I’m instantly hit with a draft of cold air. And when I flip my light on, I find my window pushed open all the way, my curtains dramatically blowing in the breeze.

That window hasn’t been open in months, and I could count on one hand how many times it’s been open this year since Rio hasn’t been home to sneak through it.

Unless he is . . .

I rush across the room, hands braced on the windowsill to find him sitting smack dab in the middle of our houses on the roof. Our roof. He’s got his knees bent and his arms leaning on them, hood covering his face, but I know it’s him.

What is he doing home already? And why didn’t he tell me he was here?

I don’t waste time by grabbing a sweatshirt to wear over my prom dress. I don’t bother with putting shoes on my bare feet. I just need to see him. So, while wearing my floor-length satin dress, I climb out my window.

“Rio?” I tentatively ask, staying close to my house. “What are you doing home already?”

He shakes his head, exhaling a defeated laugh. “I was trying to surprise you by making it home in time to take you to prom, but my flight got delayed.”

What?

“You were?”

“I bought an earlier plane ticket home.”

“That’s why you’ve been so distant the past few days?”

“I’m not a good liar, Hal. I didn’t want to risk ruining the surprise.” He doesn’t fully turn to face me, only giving me his right profile, but still his eyes slowly work their way up my body. “You look beautiful, baby.”

I take a step closer. “Thank you. But I wish I knew you were coming. I would’ve waited for you.”

“I only got here thirty minutes ago and telling you I was trying to make it would only disappoint you on your big night.”

I huff a laugh. “It wasn’t all that big. It was pretty uneventful, actually.”

I watch the outline of his jaw tic. “And your date?”

“My friend,” I correct. “I spent the whole time hyping him up to go ask the girl he’s been crushing on if she wanted to dance.”

His body moves in a silent laugh.

I step closer. “But the whole night, I was wishing I was with you.”

Finally, he turns my way, fully facing me and allowing the light from the moon to illuminate his entire face.

His very swollen face. Particularly his left, which is already forming a bruise.

“What is . . . Is that from hockey?” I rush to him, kneeling to make myself eye level. Gripping his chin, I push his hood off so I can get a better look. “Did you take a hit in practice?”

His eyes drop to my lips. “No.”

I run a gentle thumb over a split area, and he flinches slightly.

“What the hell happened?”

“Luke.”

“What do you mean, Luke? He hit you?”

Rio shrugs like this is the most casual conversation. “Well, I let him, but yeah.”

“Why would you let him? And why would he do that?”

“I let him because I deserved it for lying to him for so long, and he hit me because he was furious after I told him I was in love with his sister.”

My eyes go impossibly wide. For multiple reasons.

I fall back to a sitting position, my yellow satin gown falling around me. “What?”

“I told him. I couldn’t hide it anymore, Hal. This year was fucking miserable without you, and I can’t do another that way. You were on my mind practically every minute of every day. I wanted to fly you out to Michigan so many times. I needed to see you, but I couldn’t because your family didn’t know. I wanted to—”

“You love me?”

“Well, yeah.” He softens with a smile. “Isn’t that obvious?”

“You don’t think you should’ve told me before you told my brother?”

“Shit.” Realization dawns on his handsome but bruised face. “I didn’t think of it like that. I mean, I’ve loved you since I was twelve. I thought that was another one of those unspoken things.”

I can’t help but laugh because, wow, that feels good to hear after a year apart. “This is something that should maybe be spoken out loud.”

“Well, then.” He takes my hand, pulling me towards him. With my long dress gathering above my knees, I straddle his lap, putting us face to face. “I love you, Hallie Hart. I am in love with you, though I hope that doesn’t come as a surprise. Because if so, I’ve been doing something wrong all these years.”