Page 108 of Chasing Hope

you could tell her all about your sexcapades and she wouldn’t bat an eye

ANGEL

you know me well ;)

Just a little over six weeks since my life imploded and I can see the foundations of a new one building. Two amazing groups of people welcoming me with open arms, a new job that fills my heart with a sense of purpose, hobbies that make me feel free and…can I lump Matteo into that sentence?

A shiver makes its way down my spine, and sure enough, Matteo is standing across the deck, leaning against the railing.Johnson, Irving, and O’Connor are talking to him but his attention is fixed solely on me.

“He’s looking at you like he wants to devour you,” Cindy murmurs in my ear.

I’m about to come up with a retort but the music suddenly dies.

Turning, I find Grayson with the widest grin known to man, Bella under his arm, holding a mic the DJ gave him. Bella’s cheeks are flushed pink, and she’s positivelyglowing.

“Oh my fucking god,” Cindy gasps behind me.

“No way!” Layla adds.

I’m wondering what they’re talking about just as Bella lifts her hand in the air, a broad smile stretching across her face as Grayson declares over the microphone, “We’re engaged!”

The girls and I scream like we never have before.

Cheers, hollers, and congratulations follow. Layla all but tackles Bella. If it weren’t for Grayson’s hold on her, Layla would have taken her to the ground. I have tears in my eyes but they’re nothing in comparison to the ugly sobs coming from her.

“I knew it! I knew it had to be big!” Turning to Kieran, who also has tears of joy in his eyes, Layla slaps his thigh. “You should have told me!”

“You wouldn’t have been able to hold it in.”

“Agh!” Layla calls out before spinning back to her best friend and hugging her once more.

Cindy wipes tears from her eyes. “I’ve never been so happy for a couple before. This was truly destined. Congratulations, you two.”

“Thanks, Cin,” Grayson and Bella say in unison.

“Congratulations,” a deep male voice rumbles behind me. “So fucking happy for you guys.”

Bella’s watery smile lifts to Matteo over my shoulder. “Thanks, Matteo.”

“Thanks, man,” Grayson adds.

I’m not sure what possessed me to bring it, but as I pull my small film camera out of my purse, I’m grateful I grabbed it last minute. Snapping photos of Bella, Grayson, and all their lovedones surrounding them, including his parents, a thrill shoots down my finger.

This is why I love photography—capturing moments like this.

Afterward, Bella shares the tale of how he proposed, which sounds like the proposal of the century. It happened along a gorgeous lake with the mountains in the background, her favorite flowers, white lilies, surrounding them, while Bella’s favorite photographer hid in the trees capturing every precious moment.

I can’t wait to see the photos.

Once the initial congratulations have passed, I let Bella have a moment with her two closest girlfriends and duck away outside.

Getting a moment to myself, I tip my head back and gaze at the twinkling stars, the pink sunset long gone. I lean my hip against the railing and savor the peace and quiet.

Until it’s not.

“Something on your mind, Dove?”

Matteo steps beside me, placing his hands on the railing. I can’t help but notice the corded veins in his hands rising up his forearms, his navy shirt folded up to his elbows, giving me a glimpse of his tan skin.