Page 226 of Chasing Hope

Epilogue—Evie

TWO MONTHS LATER

The necklace sits on my skin, the golden North Star peppered with small diamonds twinkling at me as Matteo clasps it behind my neck, our gazes locking and holding in the mirror.

“So fucking beautiful,” he rasps, kissing the nape of my neck.

Leaning back into his warm broad chest, my smile is as wide as can be as I stare at the man that means the world to me. The one that puts all others to shame.

“Thank you.” Turning in his arms, I slide my hands up his biceps, lingering on the muscles. “Are you excited for tonight?”

As if he was holding his breath this whole time, he releases it in one fell swoop. “I’m nervous beyond belief. I’ve never had so many eyes on a website I’ve created before.”

“But?” I probe.

His lip twitches. “But I’m excited. It’s going to help so many kids.”

“It will. I’m so proud of you, Matteo.” My heart warms, utterly melts into a puddle as a pink flush works into his cheeks.

Tonight is the website’s launch party, an intimate one considering how many people Kieran and Matteo know. Hosted at Kieran’s house, I’m sure he’s just as nervous.

When Matteo first told me about it, I thought he got the idea from his parents, from the years of neglect he suffered from them. That was until I spoke with Kieran and all the pieces began to fall into place.

This means so much to the both of them for different reasons and yet all the same. They were both children growing up who needed to ask for help and didn’t know how. Now they’ve created a safe space that’s easily accessible for children to do so.

And I couldn’t be more proud.

“Thanks, Dove.” Clearing his throat, he steps back. “Now I know it’s technically my night…but I have something for you, too.”

My eyes widen, my hand clasping the necklace he gifted me after the trial, the North Star so I could always find my way back through the dark. “For me? Matteo, you have to stop gifting me things all the time!”

He’s halfway out the door when he frowns at me over his shoulder. “Yeah, that’s never happening. You’re the love of my life, I’ll spoil you rotten if I want to.” He’s only gone for a second before he returns with his hands behind his back. “Plus, this isn’t anything big, I promise.”

I cock a hip. “You said that about the necklace that hasdiamondsin it.”

A crooked grin lights up his face. “I did say that, didn’t I?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Shaking his head, he chuckles to himself. “Well…thisisn’t that big.”

“And what exactly is it?” I ask, trying to peek behind his back.

He tsks at me. “Hold your hands out and close your eyes.”

I do as he says, because if I’ve learned anything over the years, it’s that Matteo takes gift giving very seriously. “Okay, big guy.”

There’s rustling before something smooth is placed in both my hands. Keeping his hold on me, Matteo helps me spread my arms out, the rustling continuing. It’s not paper, per se. It’s far too thick to be.

“Open,” he says gruffly.

Fluttering my eyes open, I look down to see a black and white mapof the world. Matteo explains softly, “So you can start ticking off all the places you visit. You color it in once you visit the country.”

A smile springs across my face as I lift my head to Matteo, who’s watching me nervously. It’s the only time he’s nervous—while giving gifts. As if I would ever be like his parents and not show interest. I adore everything he does.

“This is amazing,” I breathe, peering back down at the map. “Matteo, it’s great. Thank you so much.”

“It gets better.”