Page 30

Hallie

Age 18

“Hey, Dad,” I whisper, closing the front door behind me.

He’s sitting on the couch, reading a book, and waiting for me to get home as I knew he would be.

“Hey, Hallie girl. Did you have a good time?”

I try to put on my best smile. “It was all right. I think maybe the idea of senior prom was a little more exciting than the execution.”

Mostly because I didn’t get to go with the person I wanted to. Rio had the last final of his freshman year of college today and couldn’t make it back to Boston in time, so I went with my platonic guy friend instead. It just wasn’t what I had always pictured prom would look like.

“Well, you look beautiful,” my dad continues. “I can’t believe you’re almost done with high school.”

“Dad, don’t get all sappy on me now. At least let me get to graduation before that.”

He smiles at me, but it’s kind of sad and I know that all he’s thinking about right now is that in a few short months, I’ll be off to college, just like Luke. He and my mom will officially be empty nesters, but the DeLucas next door already are, so at least they’ll have each other.

“Where’s Luke?” I ask.

My brother’s lacrosse season is still in full swing, but they play Boston College tomorrow, so he’s home for the night.

“He went out to catch up with some old friends he hadn’t seen in a while, but he was in a foul mood when he left. I have no idea what’s up with him.”

“Weird. I’ll check in with him tomorrow and make sure he’s okay.”

“Please do.”

“Well, I’m going to get some sleep.”

“All right, Hallie girl. Love you.”

“Love you too.” Halfway up the stairs, I turn back and ask, “Hey, Dad, do you want to go get breakfast tomorrow? Just the two of us, before Luke’s game?”

His previously sad smile turns up at the corners. “I’d love that. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Slipping my heels off, I carry them the rest of the way to my room. The house is quiet tonight, like it’s been all year. Without my brother around, without Rio here, it’s just... quiet.

Senior year was fine, I suppose. I hung out with my friends and did all the high school activities you’re supposed to do in your final year, but I spent most of the time counting down the days to when Rio would be home for his breaks. Unfortunately, it wasn’t very often with his college hockey season running straight through from October to April.

His visit for Christmas only lasted forty-eight hours because of their game schedule. He was traveling for hockey during his spring break, and of course, I already knew he wouldn’t make it home for my birthday.

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.”

I shake my head, smiling. “No, you’ve been doing it all right. I’ve just been missing you, and it’s nice to hear it said.”

“God, you have no idea how lonely I’ve been without you.”

“So have I.”

“We’re not hiding this anymore. I’m done pretending like we haven’t planned out our entire future. I’m done acting like you’re not mine.”

I wrap my arms around his shoulders, smiling against his lips. “But I am yours.”

“Damn right, you are.”

“Mmm.” I teasingly kiss along his jaw. “And you’re mine.”

“Always, Hal.”

“Rio?”

“Hmm?” he asks, lips dotting a path of kisses along my collarbone.

“I love you too.”

I feel him smile against my skin before he pulls back so I can see it. “Stay with me tonight?”

I quickly agree. “Your room or mine?”

“Mine.” He pauses for a moment, giving the words a chance to sink in. “My parents aren’t home.”

Oh. Oh.

I search his face, and I don’t think I’ll ever get over the way this boy looks at me. He looks like he loves me and has since the first day he saw me. I understand that sentiment all too well.

“Only if you want to,” he continues. “We can wait—”

“No,” I quickly disagree. “I don’t want to wait any longer.”

His smile turns up before he leans in and presses his lips to mine softly. We take our time, kissing for a long while, moving together.

“Come with me,” he whispers against my mouth.

He helps me stand from his lap before he takes my hand and walks me back to his bedroom window, letting me go through first.

I’ve been in his room countless times over the years but tonight, everything feels different. Bigger. More charged.

He puts on some music and the sound helps drown out the pounding beat of my heart.

Rio crosses the room and locks his door before leaning back on it as he watches me move around his room, nervously checking out things I’ve already seen a thousand times.

Eventually, my eyes track back to him, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen his eyes so heated.

“I love that dress on you, baby.”

“Thank you. It’s—”

“Take it off.”

My lips part of their own accord because, wow, I like this version of him.

Reaching behind me, I unclasp the hook at the center of my back with trembling fingers as Rio slowly makes his way back over. Standing in front of me, he slips his hands around my waist and places his hands over my shaking ones to stop me.

“Are you nervous?” he asks softly.

I nod. “Are you?”

He nods too.

That makes me smile and it makes me settle. The way he always does.

“You tell me to stop if you want me to stop.” He takes over, slowly unzipping my dress, his eyes trained on my face the whole time. “We’ll take it slow and figure it out together, okay?”

My hands aren’t shaking anymore. My heart is no longer racing.

I watch him slowly slip a strap off my shoulder.

“I’m glad it’s you.”

He breathes a small laugh before pressing his smiling lips to mine. “It’s always been you, Hallie.”