Page 83 of Chasing Hope

“Evie,” he warns once more, but I can’t be stopped. Takingmy phone out of my pocket, I lift it to snap a photo, but the moment Matteo sees it in my hand, he charges. “Absolutely fucking not.”

I scream, turning on my heel and running. I throw my phone through the truck’s open window and hold up my hand in innocence. “I don’t have it anymore!”

“I heard the damn photo go off!”

Fuck.

“It’s okay, I won’t post it anywhere!” I call as I run around the truck and up the embankment, trying to avoid him. The second I see Matteo charging up the embankment covered in muck, only to slip and lose his footing, I lose it all over again.

“Fuck!” I wheeze out. “Sorry not sorry, I am absolutely sending that to everyone.”

Growling under his breath, Matteo comes for me, and I’m not quick enough this time.

His arms wrap around my waist and he pulls me flush against him, mud and all. Screaming, I try to wiggle free and push him off.

“Matteo!”

“Oh,nowwe’re on a first-name basis?”

He throws me over his shoulder and I get a cheek full of mud from his sweaty lower back. Now I’m really screaming. “Ew! I swear to God, Matteo, if I catch some disease because of your shenanigans, I’ll haunt you!”

“Don’t tempt me with a good time.”

“Get it off me!”

The mud is disgustingly thick and warm. It’s clinging to my skin and I can already feel the acne breakout that’s going to happen if I don’t get home and wash it off soon.

Except, the lock engages on the truck, and we’re walking farther and farther away from it. I try to haul myself upward, but my hands slip on the mud and I collide with his muscular back.

“You’re like the fucking Tin Man. Jesus Christ, Valenti, is any part of you flabby?” The only response I get is the stomping of his hiking boots. “Where the hell are we going?”

“You said you want it off you,” he saysflatly.

“Exactly, so tell me why we’re walkingawayfrom the truck? Ugh, Valenti, I swear to God?—”

“What are you going to do, Dove?” he taunts.

Narrowing my eyes, I growl under my breath before reaching out and squeezing.

Matteo jumps a foot in the air, but he doesn’t let go of his hold on me. “Ow! The fuck? Did you just pinch me?”

“Yes! Put me down, you giant fucking mud buffoon!”

His head tips back with a burst of shocked laughter. The sound has me momentarily stunned, a bolt of electricity striking my system. The hair on my arms stand up, a shiver runs down my spine, and my breath catches.

It’s the most beautiful sound in the world.

Until a sharp pinch on my thigh has me squealing, and the euphoric bliss that came over me is snapped away.

“Valenti,” I grit out through my teeth.

“Yes, my sweet Dove?”

“Did you just pinch me?”

“I believe so.”

“Oh, you fucking bastard,” I hiss before leaning forward and pinching him on both sides. “Put me down!”