Page 22 of Chasing Hope

What is usually silky smooth and sultry is now as rough as gravel. I suppose that’s what happens when all you do for a week is scream in your sleep.

Moving for the entryway closet, I begin grabbing mine and Caleb’s hiking gear. “You’re coming, and I don’t care if I have to drag you out by your hair.”

“Kinky.”

My hand freezes, my back tensing. “Dove,” I grit out through clenched teeth.

“Yes, my captor?”

A spark of hope blooms in my chest at her derisive joke. “Captor, my ass. More like savior.”

“Hero complex much?”

“When you clearly need rescuing? Yes.”

“I don’t need rescuing.”

Closing the closet door, I chuck the bags, boots, and sticks on the counter, noting the way her eyes narrow. I don’t care, if I have to keep poking the bear to make her talk, I’ll happily be her punching bag.

Anything to hear the beautiful sound of her voice.

“Hate to break it to you, sweetheart, but you do. You haven’t left the apartment in eight days.”

She scoffs, rolling her eyes before taking a sip of her coffee. “It hasn’t been eight days.”

“I picked you up last Tuesday. It’s Wednesday morning.”

Light-blue eyes snap to mine then dart away, not allowing me to savor the sight of them. “Guess that’s what I get for throwing my phone out the window.”

My head rears back. “I’m sorry, did you just say?—”

She sighs, cutting me off as she rubs her temples. “Yes,I threw it out the window. Felicity and Carter wouldn’t stop calling and texting me.”

“And you didn’t think to, I don’t know,turn it off?”

“Nope, throwing it out the window felt way more cathartic.”

“You could have blocked them.”

“Again, more cathartic to throw it.”

“Did you hurt someone?”

“No, of course not. I did it at night when no one was walking on the sidewalk. I checked.”

Sliding a hand down my face, I mumble, “We can buy you a new one on the way back but we should go if we want to reach the top before sunset.”

She holds up a finger. “First of all, I don’t want a new phone, and secondly,Iam not going anywhere, so I’m in no hurry. If you buy me one, I’ll throw it at you.” And with that, she walks out of the kitchen, past me, and toward the dungeon of hell—aka, her room.

“Oh no you don’t.” Gritting my teeth, I stride after her. “I told you, I’ll drag you out that door if I have to. You’re leaving the apartment today.”

Evie just snorts, her hips swaying. “Good luck with that.”

So fucking mouthy this morning.

Before she can protest, I snatch the coffee out of her hand.

“Hey!” she snaps.