Rewind It Back (Windy City, #5)(99)

I tell them why we kept it a secret from our families and how when we finally told them about our relationship, everyone but her brother had already figured it out.

I tell them about the summer I got drafted and about all the plans we made for our life here in Chicago. I tell them about my dad and what Hallie accidentally found out. I tell them about how angry I was that she didn’t tell me, and how broken my mom was afterward.

I tell them how fucked up my parents’ divorce made me. I tell them about the grudge I held for years over Hallie not telling me the truth. I tell them about how I essentially ran away, thinking I left everything behind, only to spend the next six years comparing every person I met to her.

Without giving details that aren’t mine to share, I tell them that her dad had been sick, and I only recently found out. I tell them the timeline of when she got the news and how it only added to the reason she didn’t tell me about my own dad, though I had already forgiven that detail before I knew anything else.

I tell them what she was left to deal with and how mad I am at myself for putting her in that position. And I tell them how I haven’t been able to stop thinking about how badly I fucked up and ruined the best thing I’ve ever had in my life.

But I don’t tell them the small things. The pieces that really make our story ours. The things that are special because only Hallie and I understand their significance.

“So yeah,” I finish. “That’s the whole story.”

The room is completely silent. Looking around, I find four gaping mouths unable to find any words to say.

And then there’s Indy . . .

“Indy.” I furrow my brows. “Are you crying?”

“Of course I am!” She wipes at her face. “I’m always crying, so I don’t know why you’re surprised. But that is the most beautiful story I’ve ever heard, and I just love love, okay?”

“Did you not hear the ending? I fucked it all up.”

The other three who aren’t crying, start laughing instead.

Stevie shakes her head, trying to contain her smile. “No, you lovable idiot. You didn’t.”

“Damn,” Miller exhales. “If Kai hadn’t already convinced me, that right there would’ve made me believe in love.”

“That story makes me want to go home and see Isaiah.” Kennedy leans her head on her sister-in-law’s shoulder. “Then ask him why he only pursued me for three years before we got married when he should’ve started thinking about me at the age of twelve.”

That finally makes me smile, which feels nice.

Indy keeps wiping at her face, cleaning herself up. “I always thought that the first time you brought someone around, we’d have to interrogate them or something. Figure out their intentions and decide if they were good enough for you. Like four overbearing and overprotective sisters, but . . .” She shakes her head. “I like this outcome so much more.”

I set my still full glass of wine on the coffee table in front of me. “I know you all thought I had literally no game, and that’s why I had never been with anyone the whole time I’ve lived here. But the reality is, I just wasn’t interested. I wanted to be. I really wanted to prove myself right that Hallie wasn’t the one, but every person I met further confirmed that she was.”

“Stop.” Stevie falls back onto the floor next to me. “I love hearing you talk like this.”

Miller is laughing. “No one actually thought that, Rio.”

“You really think we believed you went on these first dates and not a single person was interested in a second?” Indy laughs. “First of all, have you looked in a mirror? And secondly, you’re you. Who wouldn’t be interested?”

“What the hell?” My voice rises. “I hit on every single one of you over the years. And none of you were interested.”

Kennedy rolls her eyes. “We don’t count.”

“I’m just saying,” Indy continues, “we knew you weren’t as hopeless as you led us to believe you were, but I wasn’t going to push you to tell me why you wanted us to think that.”

I huff a laugh. “I guess I thought it was easier to sell that story than have to explain why I wasn’t interested in anyone. I didn’t want you to know about Hallie because I know what you all would’ve said.”

Indy lifts a brow. “That you should go get her?”

“Exactly.”

Stevie sits up. “Well then, we’ll say it now. Rio, you should go get her.”

Miller holds up her nearly empty beer. “Take it from me. There’s no point in running away.”

“Again,” Kennedy tacks on.

I shake my head. “She’s not going to forgive me.”

“Honey,” Indy coos. “I saw the way she looked at you the night she helped watch the kids. She already has. It sounds like the only person who hasn’t forgiven you is you.”

“Yeah,” Miller agrees. “Stop feeling sorry for yourself.”

I can’t help but laugh at the directness. “Well, damn.”

“I’m sorry, I’m not great at soft and sweet, but Rio, come on. You running away again is not only punishing you, but it’s also punishing her. You said it yourself, you’ve already fucked up once, so don’t go fucking it up again. Simple as that.”