Chasing Hope (IceHawks #3)

17. Matteo

Matteo

Five Days Later

Tap, tap, tap.

“I have a surprise.” Walking in gently, I place a box with running shoes, sunglasses, a Garmin watch, and a running belt inside beside her. “For when you’re ready to run again,” I say softly, as if she’s a startled animal I’m trying to coax out of hiding.

She’s quiet for a moment, peeking over the duvet at everything. Evie clears her throat before whispering, “Thank you, Matteo.”

My heart lodges in my throat before dropping to the pit of my stomach. “Valenti.”

“Hm?”

“You call me Valenti.”

“Oh, right. Sorry.”

Fly back to me, Dove, I want to beg with every part of my heart.