Page 167 of Chasing Hope

I can’t help but laugh as I playfully knock her shoulder. “When the day comes I’ll tell you. Until then, you’re going to have to find something else to pique your interest.”

She bats her lashes at me but I just click my tongue, tsking. “Those doe eyes don’t work on me. I don’t have a dick.”

She cocks a hip, crossing her arms over her chest. “I’ll have you know that move works on women, too.”

“Does it?” Tristan asks, genuinely perplexed.

“Have you seen me?”

“Touché.”

Shaking my head at them, I’m about to say my farewell, worried I’ll miss the warm-up on the ice when Angel suddenly squeals beside me, her hands smacking over her lips.

Tristan and I whip our heads in her direction, but Angel screams once more before taking off into a run, colliding with a woman down the street. I’m perplexed and as confused as ever, but Tristan has a smile lighting up his face.

“Uh, what’s happening?” I murmur.

He points. “That’s Kalani.”

Excitement buzzes through my veins. “TheKalani?”

“The one and only,” he says as we make our way over.

I knew they were best friends, Angel’s other half having been away traveling for the past two months, but seeing them in the flesh together clicks everything into place. With all the stories Angel has told me, I feel like I’ve already met her.

I think Angel downplayed their relationship, though. These girls aren’t just best friends, they’re soulmates. There’s no way they’re anything less by the way they’re clinging to each other, tears in both their eyes.

“Oh my god!” Angel screams. “I thought you were getting back in three days!”

“Figured a surprise would be worth seeing your reaction, and I was right,” Kalani says, her voice sugary sweet.

She’s also drop dead gorgeous. Her skin is a deep ebony color that makes her green eyes shine. Her curls are defined and bouncy, the ringlets brushing along her shoulders.

Tristan clears his throat. “Um, hello? Can I get a hug or am I forgotten?”

Kalani rolls her eyes. “I could never forget you, Tristan. You’d never let me.”

As Tristan and Kalani embrace, Angel’s hands twitch at her sides, as if fighting to hold herself back. My thoughts are only confirmed as, once Tristan steps away, the girls turn to each other again, searching for any changes from the passing eight weeks before laughing and hugging once more.

I’ve seen bonds like this before. In Caleb and Matteo, Grayson and Kieran—two souls, able to read each other’s minds.

Angel pulls back, only to grip Kalani’s forearm. “This is Evie!”

Turning to me, Kalani grins. “The infamous Evie.” Stepping out of Angel’s touch, Kalani wraps me in an embrace, and I have to bend slightly as she murmurs, “I owe you a drink, numerous actually, for damaging Carter’s car.”

Throwing my head back, I can’t stop the laughter exploding from my chest. “I honestly forgot about that.”

“I didn’t! I’ve heard so much about you through Angel, I can’t wait to hang out more.”

“Me too,” I say earnestly.

Angel stands behind us, bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet. “Yay! I’m so glad you two got to finally meet!” Her eyes widen suddenly. “We have to go out and celebrate Kalani being home.”

Though Kalani and Tristan agree, I say sadly, “I hate to be the party pooper, but I have the game tonight.”

Angel frowns. “Fuck, I forgot.”

“It’s okay, you three go ahead and catch up. Why don’t we do drinks tomorrow night after work?”