48. Levi

Chapter 48

Levi

now

The scenery here is exceptional. The crisp, barren tree line and a cloudless sky create a view that can be seen for miles.

I've made a point to spend as much time out here as possible over the last few days.

First, because Magnolia and Dr. Ferguson were here, and I felt it best to stay out of their way. Now, because I want to give Greedy and Hunter a little space.

Hunter is my girl, there's no changing that, and I'm certain we can make this work. That she can be our girl if that's the route they choose.

Regardless of my relationship with her, they deserve a moment to themselves. So much has happened over the last few days. I want them to figure their shit out. To untangle their past and to start on the path of healing.

I came out here for solitude, but that didn't last long.

"The reception really is shit," Spence grumbles, scowling at his phone. "I wonder how much longer we're staying here. "

I'm half-tempted to joke about his private servers and whatever it was he was going on about with Kylian the other day.

Before I can, a memory of what transpired between us yesterday flashes in my mind.

I swallow hard, fighting back the urge to bring up the topic of the sexual tension rising between us. Not because I'm not eager to explore it, but because there are so many unknowns surrounding what'll happen next.

Between what's going on with Hunter's mom and now this reconciliation with Greedy, I can't afford for her to be upset, or for Kabir to rock the boat in some unexpected way.

"When will you go back to England?" I ask, feeling bolder than I anticipated.

He eyes me without lifting his head, cocking one brow at the directness of my question.

"Undecided," he remarks before focusing on his phone again.

"Well, you should get around to deciding. It's not fair to Hunter for you to just pop in temporarily."

Smirking, he glances at me, but immediately focuses on his device again. "I can assure you, champ. There's nothing temporary about my place in that woman's life."

Nodding, I push on. Now we're getting somewhere.

"So I take it you plan to stick around?"

Kabir sets his phone on the small table beside him and widens his stance. His spine is unnaturally straight, as if he's at full attention. We're sitting in Adirondack lounge chairs, for crying out loud, but he looks like he's presiding over a crowded boardroom table.

"If Hunter doesn't wish to return to London with me, then yes, I intend to stay."

"She's not going to London." I'm up on my feet without conscious thought.

One corner of Kabir's mouth tilts up in a smirk. "Ah, there it is. "

Fire coursing through my veins, I glare. "You're not willing to let her go."

"Damn right, I'm not," he asserts. "Some people may call this predicament a stalemate, but knowing my girl—"

" Our girl," I correct.

Kabir breaks into a full-on grin as he regards me.

"Very well, then. Our girl. I'm sure we'll figure something out."

I sit back down, heating with embarrassment over my reaction. Embarrassed or not, anxiety still nags at me when I think about Hunter going anywhere at all.

"Why did you say that?" I eventually ask when my worries get the best of me. "Did she say something about going back to England with you?"

Kabir shakes his head. "No. Nor have I brought it up to her. Not yet, at least. Returning to London would resolve the Magnolia issue, though."

Shit.

My stomach sinks. He's right.

Hunter's so excited to get back to school, to kick ass for another semester, but given the line of conversation last night and what will inevitably be a lot of pressure from both her mom and Dr. F, maybe it would be better for her to get out of town.

"That's not the worst idea ever," I reluctantly admit. Rising to my feet, I cross my arms over my chest and assess Kabir. Then, bolstering my courage, I stride over to stand directly in front of him. "I'm not giving her up for anything. Where she goes, I go. End of story."

His expression is calculating as he inspects me. He's still wearing that smirk that would look smarmy on anyone else. But on him, it's really fucking sexy.

"All right, then," he concedes. He dips his head, picks his phone back up, and starts to scroll again.

Did he just let me win that fight? Were we ever even arguing to begin with? Either way, I'm counting it as a W.

I settle back down into the Adirondack beside him, close my eyes, and rest my head against the wooden slats .

Kabir clears his throat. "I guess now we just need to figure out where Garrett Reed stands."

That we do.