Page 96 of Chasing Hope

“There’s still a week to go,” Johnson points out.

“Fuck, ain’t that true.”

“I say next time, we all go on a team trip,” Grayson suggests.

Kieran claps his best friend’s shoulders. “Fuck yes! I’m so fucking down, shenanigans to the max.”

“You’re coupled up. No shenanigans for you.”

He glares at Johnson. “The fact that you don’t know how to have fun while being in a relationship is just sad.”

Irving hoots with laughter. “Fucking burn, bitch!”

Johnson’s head swivels slowly toward Irving. I’m surprised he doesn’t drop dead. Not surprised that he suddenly shuts up, though.

It’s then my phone vibrates against my leg.

I’m a little embarrassed at how quickly I pull it out of my pocket.

DOVE

done for the day and heading back now!

it went well!

Barely glancing at the text, I quickly get to my feet, clapping the boys on their shoulders. “I’m out. See you at training Monday.”

Irving gives me the saddest puppy dog eyes. “But we were hanging out!”

Grayson and Kieran give each other a look. “You around tonight, Valenti?”

As I grab my jacket and keys, I can’t help but frown at them. Something is absolutely going on. “Evie and I are. Why?”

Their brows rise in unison before Grayson drawls, “Didn’t realize you and Evie were a package deal.”

Kieran grins as he folds his arms, leaning back. “Is Caleb aware of this?”

Glaring at my captain and business partner, I growl out, “We’re not a package deal.”

Not wanting to explain myself further because, fuck, maybe Ido see us like that lately, I spin on my heel, wave goodbye over my shoulder, and stride out of the house.

Jumping in the truck, I’m far too aware of how excited I am to see her. This is the longest we’ve been separated in a month and goddamn if I didn’t think about her every minute while she was gone.

Does that make me a sucker? Most likely, but I can’t force myself to care about how attached I’ve become to her.

All I know is that when I’m around Evie, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. I find myself smiling more, laughing more, and most importantly, I feel at peace. The only other time I’ve ever felt truly at peace is on the ice and yet here I am, craving the need to be beside my best friend’s little sister because she’s all I can think about.

The breath I didn’t realize I had been holding escapes me in a rush as I step through the front door to find Evie at the kitchen island, surrounded by scattered images, her blonde hair tied up in a messy bun, wearingmyhoodie.

The sight is a sucker punch to the gut.

Nothing’s ever made me feel this way before.

My heart pounds a furious beat, my hands twitch at my sides to touch her, and my mouth salivates with the desperate urge to put my lips against hers.

She’s my home.

This right here—her lifting her head in my direction and a radiant smile lighting up her face and those soft pearly blue eyes locking on mine—is myhome.