Page 110 of Chasing Hope

I can’t say a damn fucking thing without showing the cards I’ve kept close to my chest since I was little. I put my heart out there once before, and I’m not going to let it be trampled again. He needs to be the one to lead this time.

“You’re playing with fire,” I declare.

“Am I? Or am I just doing what we have both been craving for years?”

My eyes flash as Matteo moves even closer, the distinct smell ofhimsurrounding me.

“Everyone out!” Kieran bellows. “The newly engaged couple want to get it on and none of us need to be traumatized by that.”

“Kieran!” Bella scolds.

“We just got here,” I whisper as I watch the lights turns on, the music cut out, and the grumble of partygoers fill the space.

Kieran claps his hands together. “Party is moving to Irving’s. Let’s go!”

Matteo slides his arm around my shoulder, dropping his lips to my ear and making goosebumps pop up on my arms. “Irving lives in the same complex as us.”

Us.

I know what he means but my stomach flips all the same.

I stop short. “Wait, why hasn’t he been over annoying the shit out of me if he’s in the same building?” At the guilty look on Matteo’s face, I demand, “Spill it.”

He coughs into his fist. “I may or may not have a certain video of him from a certain holiday.”

“You really do blackmail people.”

“Only when it’s needed.”

Throwing my hand in his direction, I say, “Irving is harmless! He’s like a puppy.”

Matteo fixes me with a deadpan stare.

“Okay fine, a puppy that humps you but a harmless puppy nonetheless,” I relent.

Matteo snorts as Kieran cups his hands around his mouth and calls out, “The DJ and bartenders are following us. Cars are out front. Be responsible and buckle up!”

“He really did think of everything,” I murmur as we make our way back inside.

“Emmy and Layla are the best things to have ever happened to him.”

Before I can respond, Cindy and O’Connor come barreling past, Cindy’s eyes glassy as she declares, “Let’s fucking party!” They usher both of us through the house, and I chuckle at how happy everyone is for their friend and captain.

Matteo keeps his arm around my shoulder as we end up as the last to get in line for the black SUVs. The DJ trails out of the house, workers carrying equipment and containers of liquor following suit. I frown at the amount of people versus the available cars. “Are there enough seats?”

Taking his eyes off me, he peers around the driveway. “I hope so. Worst case scenario, we can call an Uber.”

Layla heads off in a separate car with Emmy and Kieran. Rolling down the window, she calls out to me, “We’re dropping Emmy off at my mom’s. We’ll be a little late. See you there!”

“See you soon!” I call back with a wave.

SUVs begin shuffling down the driveway, various horns blaring out a happy tune. Matteo and I chuckle at the absolute debauchery happening as windows roll down and catcalls join the mix about their captain getting lucky.

It’s a good ten minutes until we’re finally herded into a car. Matteo leads me in first, but I stop short. There’s only one seat left in the far back, the front and middle aisle seats full. What look like cases for the DJ equipment take up the rest of the space and the trunk of the car.

“Uh, there’s only one seat,” I point out to the driver.

Blowing out a breath, he takes off his hat, running his fingersthrough his thinning hair. He gestures to the now-empty driveway. “Everyone else is gone. I have to take the equipment.”