Page 13 of Chasing Hope

A smile tries to break free. “You didn’t want to be subjected to that in the living room?”

“Nah, I don’t mind them. Just thought you needed a safe space to land.”

Emotion clogs my throat.

“We have to share a bathroom so I cleared out some drawers for you. You can use Caleb’s bathroom if you want more privacy but fair warning, he’s?—”

“A slob, I know. It’s fine, I don’t mind sharing a bathroom.” I narrow my eyes at him. “So long as you leave the toilet seat down.”

He salutes me. “Yes, ma’am.” Lowering his hand, he watches me out of the corner of his eye. “Are you hungry?”

“Not really.”

“Not even for sour worms?”

My spine straightens at that. “You bought sour worms?”

Rising, he throws the remote down on the bed before striding out of the room, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “I did, but you said you’re not hungry, so don’t worry about?—”

I shove his shoulder. “You know I’m always hungry for sour worms! Come on, Valenti, where are they?”

He takes his time walking down the stairs, the corner of his lip twitching.

The bastard is enjoying this.

In the kitchen, Matteo opens a cupboard, then throws them clear across the island. Quickly snatching them, a smile finally breaks free along my cheeks as I open the bag of candy.

“You’re a fiend.”

“And you’re my favorite person.” Popping a sour worm in my mouth, I all but moan. It feels weird to be smiling, odd for my muscles to be moving in this way after what’s occurred, but that’s Matteo’s power over me.

Opening my eyes to reach into the bag for another, I find Matteo leaning against the kitchen island, arms crossed over his chest, the muscles bunching.

He doesn’t hide his assessing gaze. “It’s been a while, Dove.”

My chewing slows.I knew I couldn’t avoid this.Sighing deeply, I pull out one of the three stools, taking a seat as I prepare for the questions. I take a play from his book and shoot for nonchalance, shrugging like I don’t care, like it doesn’t make my mouth burn to lie to him. “Have been busy.”

His brow quirks. “I’m not Caleb. You don’t have to lie to me.”

“I don’t know what you want me to say.”

“The truth would be nice.”

“Truth of what?”

“Of why you’ve been avoiding your family.” He cocks his head, his pause full of a heaviness that makes me struggle to swallow. “And, in turn, me.”

“I haven’t been avoiding you, but where you go?—”

“Caleb goes,” he finishes for me.

I snort. “I’m surprised no one has nicknamed you the Velcro babies.”

Matteo pushes off the island, lowering himself across from me on the counter and leaning on his forearms so we’re at eye level. “Funny.”

“Oh yeah, that really got a crack out of you.”

His lip twitches.