Page 128 of Chasing Hope

I’m still too afraid to speak to him, afraid that my voice will crack and the tears will spill again. Especially after Marcus’s compliments. Caleb feels this every day, this…love? Is this what it feels like to be loved by a parent?

Why can’t my parents be like Marcus and Serena?

Caleb smiles for the both of us at my grunt. He throws his fist in the air and hollers.

Mr. Ellington turns to both of us. “Am I going to be up all night with you two being scared?”

Again, there’s no question—just assumption that I’ll be staying the night.

Caleb scoffs as he moves to open the back door. “No, we’re not that little, Dad.”

Mr. Ellington looks at me with a knowing smile.

Before I can move toward my own door, it flies open, but instead of Caleb standing there, I come face-to-face with Evie. She doesn’t have a care in the world that she’s standing in the rain, her clothes getting wet, and for some reason, like it always does, my heart stops beating for a moment when I look at her.

Out the corner of my eye, I see Caleb dash into the garage, taking off his shoes by the back door.

Evie’s smile takes up half her face, her missing tooth only making her look more adorable. “Hi, Valenti!”

“Hi, Dove,” I whisper.

Evie’s smile starts to drop, her ocean-blue eyes moving back and forth.

Mr. Ellington rounds the car, quickly grabbing Caleb’s hockey kit from the trunk. I left mine in my school locker. I didn’t think I could make it all the way home lugging it myself.

Evie steps closer, a slight lisp to her words as she asks softly, “Are you okay?”

“I am now,” I answer honestly.

“Did you use the bracelet? Did it make you feel safe?”

“Evie!” Mr. Ellington calls out. She jumps, flinching at his loud volume. “What are you doing getting wet? You’ll get sick. Go on inside. You too, Matteo.”

She looks at me sheepishly. Sliding out of the car, I shut the door, walking side by side with her until we reach Caleb and toe off our wet shoes.

“I’m going to go get the movie started! I think my mom washed your clothes from last night and put them upstairs in my room. I’ll go get them.”

Before I can say thank you, Caleb’s taking off through the house, calling out for his mom.

Marcus puts Caleb’s kit away as Evie frowns. “What movie?” He comes up beside us, putting his hand gently on Evie’s shoulder and pulling her in for a side hug, but she doesn’t take her eyes off me as she waits for the answer.

“Not one you can watch, honey.”

“Why?”

“Do you want nightmares for months?”

“I won’t get nightmares.”

Yes, you do. You have nightmares regardless of what you watch.But I can’t say that because she doesn’t know that I’m the only one who can calm her while she’s in a nightmare, that my hand in hers and my whispers are the only sounds and touch she can handle.

“If the boys are watching it, then I’m watching it,” Evie says stubbornly, raising her chin.

Mr. Ellington turns to me, his lips flattening. “Room for one more tonight?”

Before I can stop it, I find myself smiling. “Always.”

Shaking his head, he sighs. “Serena and I are in for it tonight.” He presses the button to close the garage door as he walks into the house. “Dear, it seems we will have three scared children tonight!”