Page 73 of Chasing Hope

Text messages and missed calls suddenly disappeared off my phone. Opportunities to see my brother that I had no idea about would be relayed to me weeks later. It took me a long time to realize Carter was deleting incoming communication from Caleb.

All along, I thought he was turning his back on me. Little did I know, it was Carter isolating me when I needed my brother the most.

“When are you coming back?” I ask, not able to keep the longing from my voice.

Caleb hears it, of course. “Want me to come home?”

“No, I’m fine. I want you to stay in Greece. I just miss you is all.” I pause a beat before confessing, “I missed these FaceTime calls.”

His smile is a sad, knowing one. “Me too, V. Which, speaking of missing me, I was thinking, especially now knowing you’re going to be studying for…what, how long is the training course?”

“It’s seven to ten weeks in-class training and then twelve weeks on-site training.”

Caleb blows out a breath. “Shit, yeah, okay, then you absolutely need to stay at our apartment while you study and train.”

“I can’t keep staying here rent-free, C.”

“Why not?”

“Well, because…it’s wrong, and I’m not a freeloader.”

“Never said you were, and you’re not freeloading.”

“I’m pretty sure the definition of a freeloader is someone who stays for months without paying rent,” I drawl sarcastically.

Caleb just rolls his eyes. “You’re my sister, and I’m assuming the training wage, if any, is horrendous so end of discussion, you’ll keep staying there. And if you’re so hellbent on paying rent, you can pay it in the form of coming to watch me play.” He pouts, and he looks oddly adorable, like a puppy who got caught digging a hole. “I miss you coming to my games.”

I point at the camera. “Watching you play is not the equivalent of rent, but fine, I’ll start coming to your games again.”

I only stopped because I thought he was ignoring me. For months when I thought I was texting and calling my brother, I was actually dialing a burner phone Carter bought.

Fucking psychopath.

That same feminine voice calls out my brother’s name in the background. Now I’m really smiling. “Go on, have fun. We can talk later when you’re not so…preoccupied,” I tease.

Caleb winks. “See you, sis.”

“Don’t make me an auntie!” I call out right as he ends the call.

And just my luck, right as the front door opens.

Matteo drops his sporting bag on the floor, his brow quirked. “Jesus I just spoke to him a little over an hour ago and he wasn’t drunk yet. Please tell me he’s being safe and wrapping up.”

I wrinkle my nose. “Ew, I didn’t ask if he’s wearing a condom.”

“But you asked him not to make you an auntie?”

“Duh.”

I wait for Matteo to move farther into the apartment, but he just remains standing there, staring.

Frowning, I eye him quizzically. “Are you…okay?”

“Yep.”

But he doesn’t move from the doorway.

Dubious, I can’t keep the confusion out of my voice. “Okay then…” Turning back to my computer, I resume scrolling on Pinterest, now searching the Greek islands.