Page 29 of Chasing Hope

“Thanks, Valenti.” I wave my hand around us. “For everything.”

“Can I record you saying that?”

I whack his shoulder. “Absolutely not! And you’ll never hear me say it again.”

“Stubborn.”

“Arrogant.”

“How can I not be arrogant when I was right all along?”

Pursing my lips, I roll my eyes and move the subject away. “How come you haven’t been training, by the way? Don’t you guys still have to keep up during the off-season?”

“I have been.”

My frown is swift and sudden. “I haven’t seen you leave the apartment.”

“You have been sleeping in until noon, and even then, you only make a quick appearance for coffee. I train morning and afternoon.”

“Oh.” I don’t know why that makes me feel so dejected, that I’ve had my head so far up my ass I didn’t even notice Matteo leaving for hours at a time.

Damn, I really did turn into a sewer rat.

“Tomorrow is the team’s weekly family barbeque. Caleb obviously isn’t going?—”

My nose wrinkles. “Probably fucking everything that moves in Greece.”

“You said it, not me.” He chuckles at the face I pull. “You should come, though. The girls are really great. I think you’d get along with them.”

“Is Cindy still dating Asher?”

“Yep.”

“Fuck yes,” I cheer. “God, I love that woman. She’s a force to be reckoned with.”

“So, that’s a yes?”

“Will there be alcohol?”

“Grayson’s sober now so the boys don’t drink at the family dinner’s in solidarity, but Cindy always smuggles wine in for the girls.”

Whistling low I murmur. “Shit, I didn’t know he got sober.”

Matteo smiles, a full toothy one that has my stomach fluttering. “He’s been sober for nearly two years now. I’m so proud of him.”

“That’s a huge accomplishment.” Huffing sarcastically, I wave my hand in the air. “Fine, booze or no booze, I’ll come.”

Matteo sits up taller, stretching out his lower back. “Cindy will be pleased. You two have a lot to catch up on.”

“I’m sure she’s going to love telling me everything that’s happened while I’ve been away.”

“Every second of it.” He cocks his head, conversation turning earnest. “Speaking of, I said it earlier, but I really want you to know that you can tell me anything, that whatever has you spiraling, you can share it with me and I won’t tell anyone.”

“I find it hard to believe you wouldn’t tell Caleb.”

Especially with something like this.

I don’t think anyone would be able to just sit on what I’m keeping close to my chest.