Page 54 of Chasing Hope

You were.“I’m sorry.”

For once, it’s not an empty apology. Looking in his forest-green eyes, I can see how much I hurt him, can see how much pain I would cause him if I wilted away into nothing.

His swallow is audible. “Don’t give up. Please. You’re not done conquering the world. Just keep going…okay?”

“Okay.”

He exhales, letting out such a deep breath I wouldn’t besurprised if he told me he had been holding it in all week. Guilt crawls under my skin at worrying him so much, and the fact that Caleb hasn’t flown home tells me that he’s been keeping under wraps just how sad I’ve been.

My hand slips from Matteo’s cheek as he rises, holding out his hand for me. “Come on.”

“Where are we going?”

The corner of his lip twitches. “Take my hand and find out.”

It’s the easiest thing in the world for me to trust Matteo.

Sliding my hand in his, an electric shock runs down my arm, raising the hairs along my skin. He holds my gaze while slowly lifting me from the ground.

Once standing, he wraps an arm around my shoulder, peering down at me as he guides us through the park. “Are you still a horrible cook?”

I snort. “Depends on what I’m cooking.”

“I’ll take that as a yes then,” he mutters.

Chapter 21

Matteo

MATTEO

it’s coming along

I give it three more weeks and we can start running beta testing

ASHFORD

holy fucking shit dude

you have no idea how excited I am

you’re an absolute legend

this is going to save so many children

MATTEO

I hope so!

ASHFORD

I know so

Evie’s blonde hair cascades down her back as she tips her chin, nose wrinkling. “Your surprise was to bring me to a grocery store?”

“What do you have against grocery stores?”

Evie’s glacial blue eyes slide my way. “Nothing, just an interesting surpriseis all.”