54. Greedy

Chapter 54

Greedy

now

I sneak out of the room just as my phone stops vibrating. Instantly, it starts up again. I take a few steps away from the primary and head down the first flight of stairs so I won't wake anyone.

"Hello?" I finally answer as I reach the second floor.

"Son."

The way he says that one word makes my heart lurch and my feet falter.

"Hey, Dad. Is everything okay?" With a hand on the banister, I force myself to continue down the next flight of stairs on shaky legs.

"No. Everything's not okay."

"What's going on?" I step into the living room and immediately freeze.

Kabir is sitting on the sofa, cradling a sleeping Hunter in his arms. He's looking down at her like she's the most precious, cherished thing in the world.

I'm starting to believe that to him, she is .

Rather than being prodded with spikes of jealousy at the sight of them, a warmth grows in my chest.

The way he looks at her? The unyielding trust she has in him? It's all starting to make sense.

"Are you there, son?" my dad asks, pulling me back to the present moment.

"Yeah, sorry. I'm here now."

Kabir looks up quickly, meeting my gaze and lifting one finger to his mouth.

Obviously, I realize Hunter is sleeping, but at the tension in my father's voice, I'm locked in place, no longer keen on scurrying over to the kitchen. I zero in on Kabir, who's watching me just as intently, and silently urge him to understand. I'm on high alert. The way his eyes go a steely gray confirms he sees it and is instantly there, too.

"I missed some of what you said. Can you explain it again?" I keep my voice soft and shuffle to a chair on the far side of the room, far enough away that I shouldn't disturb Hunter, and rest my arms on the back of it.

My dad exhales, the sound weary. "It's Magnolia," he says. "Something's wrong. She's hysterical."

"Did something happen?"

"Not that I'm aware of. She was okay when we left the cabin yesterday morning, but as the day went on, she got more and more agitated. She keeps saying she can't get through to Hunter."

"All right…" That sounds like the Magnolia we all know. Fuck, I hate that he's going to discover the truth about the woman he loves the hard way. Though it's about time he sees her true colors.

Honestly, there's a good chance Hunter was ignoring her mom. I wouldn't blame her, and there's no way in hell I'll even try to convince her to respond.

"Reception is terrible up here," I remind my dad. It's the truth, after all. "Maybe Hunter hasn't seen the texts or calls? "

"That could be," he admits. "I tried to ask Magnolia, but it was like she didn't even hear me. She's not herself. She's hysterical. I think Hunter needs to come back and be with her."

"It's the middle of the night," I protest.

Kabir arches a brow in question. I shake my head, because there's no way in hell anyone's going anywhere right now.

"You're right," my dad replies. "But can you pass along the message in the morning? Tell Hunter her mom needs her. Have her come straight home. Actually, have her call me. In case we end up at the hospital."

"I'm sorry you're dealing with this, Dad. I'll make sure Hunter checks her phone first thing in the morning."

"Thank you, son. I love you. I'll keep you posted."

After he disconnects, I pocket my phone, then lift my head and meet the curious gaze of His Royal Highness.

"It was your father?"

"Yeah." I blow out a long breath and scratch at the back of my head. "Magnolia's freaking out. She wants to talk to Hunter and needs to get through to her immediately."

"Come sit."

I do as he says, taking a seat on the couch beside him, closest to where Hunter's head is cradled against his chest.

"You know that her mother is toxic," I say, looking from the beautiful girl in his arms up to the man who—fuck. The man who made me come tonight.

I should feel embarrassed. Off-kilter. I should be questioning so much, trying to make sense of what's next. Instead, there's no awkwardness whatsoever. Not during sex; not afterward, when we were cleaning up; and not now, as we sit side by side.

"I know enough, yes."

Raking my hand through my hair, I examine Hunter. For a girl who struggles with insomnia, she's having no problem sleeping through this conversation .

"I have half a mind to not even tell her," I murmur as I admire her soft, pretty face. She looks so peaceful. So at ease.

Kabir clearly doesn't agree, if his grimace is any indication.

"I can understand your thought process, but it has to be her choice," he tells me.

Her choice . Right. Must be nice to be given a choice.

I grit my teeth as a lick of anger dances up my spine.

"Garrett," Kabir says softly.

I force myself to focus on him, noting that for the first time, he's dropped my middle name.

"She didn't think she had a choice, mate. Back then? With you? She'd be the first to admit now that her decision was foolish, but at the time…" He shakes his head sadly. "She never wanted to hurt you."

Just like that, my anger dissipates. He's right.

Even so, I'm still licking the wounds. They're deep and have been festering for three years, and they were ripped wide open when Kabir showed up and dropped that bomb last week.

Fuck. Has it really only been a week and change? How did we get here so quickly?

Was it quick? Or was this all meant to be? Maybe every move, every decision, was leading to this.

No wrong moves.

It's what I used to say all the time. I stopped believing the sentiment after Hunter left. Our lives fell apart three years ago, but what if that had to happen for us to get here, to the place we are now?

"It needs to be her choice," I concede, playing with a loose strand of hair. "But there's no sense in waking her tonight."

"On that, we agree."

I look around the room, noting Kabir's setup. There's a tablet and a headset off to one side. He's got his laptop cracked, and there are notebooks and a few files open on the coffee table.

"Do you still have more to do?" I ask .

He nods, but he doesn't seem like he's in a hurry to get back into his work. "She doesn't always sleep well," he says softly, gazing down at Hunter.

I snicker, because for the first time, His Royal Highness is not catching me unawares.

"Believe me, man. I know. Want me to take her upstairs?"

With a nod, he shifts so I can stand without disrupting her. I scoop her up into my arms, and, thankfully, she barely stirs.

I've got her braced against my body tightly, ready to take her upstairs so she can get a good night's sleep, but before I turn, a warm hand brushes my forearm.

"Garrett," Kabir says, his blue-gray eyes solely focused on me. "Earlier was… enjoyable. Fulfilling. Scorching hot. For a moment, it felt like so much more. I think we could make this work. All of us. If you're willing to give it a go."

A zap of surprise courses through me at his directness. Though I can't deny I appreciate it. I had no idea what would come of us going down this road. But if we're all in agreement and willing to travel it together…

"I feel you, sir." With a grin, I shoot him a wink, which I think catches him off guard. "I'm in."