47. Hunter

Chapter 47

Hunter

now

Like a starfish, I splay my arms and legs out wide, stretching after a surprisingly satisfying night's sleep.

Yawning, I roll to my side and continue stretching and spreading out in the massive bed of the primary bedroom.

It hits me then. How much space I have, and dread instantly churns in my gut. I push up on one elbow and scan the room, my heart rate taking off.

I'm alone.

I didn't fall asleep alone. And yet…

The bedroom door creaks open, the sound startling me. I shoot up, gripping the sheets and duvet to my chest, even though I'm wearing pajamas.

Greedy steps inside, offering me a tentative smile.

"Hey." He gingerly holds a mug in one hand and shuts the bedroom door with the other.

"I brought you tea. "

All the truths I've shared and the uncertainty woven into what lies ahead combine to form a ball of anxiety. So instead of responding with "thank you," or even "that was kind," I blurt out, "I thought you left."

Greedy's steps falter, and his face drains of all color. "What? No." He holds up the steaming mug as evidence. "I snuck down to make sure our parents are really gone and to make you this."

I blow out a long breath. Relief and a sensation akin to hopefulness settle inside me.

"Thank you," I finally squeak out, holding a hand out in acceptance of his thoughtfulness. The heat from the mug soaks into me as I cup it with both hands and bring it to my lips. As the warmth settles over me, I savor the notes of cardamom and mint.

"Did you want me to go?" he hedges, his throat working in a harsh swallow.

Heart dropping, I blink up at him. "Of course not," I rush to reply. Shifting over, I nod to the open space on the mattress beside me. "Come back to bed."

We weren't intimate last night. We weren't sexually intimate, I should say. Greedy held me. We talked half the night. We cuddled and spooned, and for the first time in a very long time, I felt at home in his presence.

A grin blooms on his face. The contrast between it and the look of uncertainty he wore before reminds me that he's probably just as unsure as I am about where things stand between us.

He climbs back into bed and perches against the headboard, holding out one arm to invite me in. I take another sip of tea and set it on the nightstand, then gladly shift over to snuggle into his side.

"It's going to take some time to get used to this," I admit.

He caresses my shoulder and down my arm, then repeats the motion.

"I know," he admits. "It's even more complicated thanks to His Royal Highness down in the kitchen right now."

I stiffen, but before I can come to Spence's defense, Greedy continues.

"He's acting like he's not going anywhere anytime soon. So I guess it's the four of us now. "

Heat crawls up my neck at the thought.

The four of us.

Greedy and I are just beginning to find our footing. Things have evolved quickly with Levi, and it's like Spence and I were never apart. Is it really possible that the four of us could be together?

"Did you ever think we'd be here again?" I ask, purposely leaving the question open-ended. Here could be the cabin. This specific room. This entire place has been painted in heartache and grief, trauma and misunderstandings.

Shame washes over me when I think about the time we lost because I ran, foolishly thinking I could protect him and myself from the pain.

"Yeah, Tem," he tells me as he presses his lips to the top of my head. "I didn't know how or when, and some days it was damn near impossible not to lose hope, but I always knew we'd be back here."

I close my eyes and let his words reverberate in my mind. Illuminate my heart. Take root deep inside my soul.

He always knew we'd be back here.

Though I don't have a clue what comes next, his confidence in us is enough for now.