Page 203 of Chasing Hope

TRISTAN

Nina says to take all the time you need

I’m so sorry this is happening

KALANI

absolutely anything you need and we will make it happen

ANGEL

we love you

BOOK CLUB BANDITS

LAYLA

thinking of you <3

BELLA

we’re all here whenever you need us, Evie. one word and we will come running

CINDY

with pitchforks

anything for you my sweet girl

BOOM.

My entire body flinches from my brother’s roar as it cracks like thunder across the otherwise silent mountain.

Matteo, sitting beside me on the couch, takes a deep breath before rising, his steps measured and controlled as he opens the front door of the two-bedroom isolated cabin and slowly closes it behind him, going to console his best friend.

It’s the first time I’ve been alone since the tragedy of my birthday dinner.

Slowly easing back into the couch, I pick up the remote beside me, flicking the TV on to distract myself. But then I freeze. A reporter fills the small screen, the glow of the news station illuminating the darkening cabin as someone I have never met before talks about how I was raped.

A chill makes its way down my spine, one that settles so deep within my bones I fear I’ll never be able to get warm again.

Is this my new normal?

Is this what my days will consist of now?

Strangers speculating about what happened to me? Will they poke and prod the scraps of my story? Will they accuse me of lying? Will they continue to violate me in new ways I never thought of?

“It’s believed to be that sister of IceHawks star Caleb Ellington was allegedly assaulted repeatedly by no other than Caleb and Evie’s father, who was also close to Caleb’s best friend and teammate, Matteo Valenti.”

The remote in my hand begins to tremble as I shake.

“The accused, Marcus Ellington, has stepped forth and spoken to us directly.” Nodding, the screen changes, moving from a standard news station to another reporter out in front of my childhood home, a microphone lifted to his lips.

The blood drains from my face.

“Evan? Go ahead,” the first reporter prompts.

Evan touches his ear, face serious before he steps to the side. “Thank you, Lucy. I’ve got Marcus and Serena Ellington here beside me, willing to give an exclusive statement.”