So Rare (Boys of South Chapel #3)

14. Levi

Chapter 14

Levi

NOW

One last stop, Kabir assured us.

One last stop, and then we can take her home.

Greedy pulls over at a gas station ten miles out from where we suspect Hunter to be. According to Kabir, there’s not much between here and our destination. He also warned that we may have to wait a bit once we arrive at the facility.

Nothing is fast or easy about any of this, apparently.

But we’re almost there. We’re almost fucking there.

With a huff, I unbuckle and slide out of the passenger seat. Kabir steps out of the back seat and sidles up next to me. Unsurprisingly, he’s dressed in a three-piece suit and expensive-looking shoes. The aviator sunglasses perched on the bridge of his chiseled nose complete the look.

“Right. I assume we’re responsible for refueling the vehicle ourselves? What’s the difference between the green pump and the black pump?” He points between the gasoline and the diesel.

Greedy comes around the bumper to join us as Kabir steps up to the pump.

“I suppose we want the green one, for less environmental impact?”

“ No ,” Greedy and I yell in unison, shooting horrified looks at Kabir before turning to each other.

“We got it,” I insist, reaching for the proper pump.

Greedy stands beside me so we’re shoulder to shoulder and swipes his card, effectively shooing Kabir from the area.

“Right. I’ll see what sort of nourishment I can find inside the”—he surveys the sign above the station—“Quickie Deluxe Mart and Deli.” With a shake of his head, he pulls a face. “Who the hell is in charge of naming these things?”

With that, he saunters into the mart.

Greedy leans back, letting the cab hold his weight. With his arms crossed over his chest and one leg crossed in front of the other, he tips his chin my way.

“Wouldn’t want to end up with diesel in the combustion chamber, huh, Leev?”

I try to hide my smile—but dammit. Nostalgia and the depth of our shared history sweep over me like a horse collar tackle I never saw coming. We’ve been through so much together, Greedy and I. He’s seen me at my lowest, and he’s stood by me at my worst.

I shouldn’t be surprised by the recent turn of events. He’s always been one of the most important people in my life. Even during the years we barely spoke. Emotion clogs my throat momentarily before I clear it, desperate to make a joke and bring a little levity to this situation.

“Leave it to the British Invasion to not know how to pump his own gas.”

Chuckling, Greedy rights himself and glances over his shoulder, back to the convenience store. His gaze lingers there for a few seconds.

In that span of time, I miss his attention something fierce. A tightness settles in my chest once more, this time motivated by longing laced with jealousy.

“I’ve got this,” I assure him, lifting my chin. “If you want to go check on him—”

He closes the space between us in two strides, then confidently hooks one arm around my shoulders.

“He’s not the one I’m worried about.” The words are soft, just for me.

I stiffen in response. Judging by how he lingers, he isn’t the least bit thrown off by the intimacy of the gesture. Isn’t he scared? Confused? Why isn’t he demanding we talk about what happened in that locker room?

As if sensing my spiraling concerns, he wraps his other arm around my waist, then plants his chin on my shoulder. “We’re okay,” he whispers, his breath on my neck as warm and soothing as his touch. “Whatever we are, and whatever we’re going to be, we’ll it figure out. Right now, we’re okay.”

Through the sleeve of my T-shirt, I feel Greedy kiss my shoulder. I squeeze the pump as hard as I can to distract myself from overreacting to the gesture. To keep myself from spinning him around, pinning him against the truck, and kissing him for real, right here, out in the open.

I nod silently to acknowledge him, then let my eyes fall shut and inhale deeply to calm my nerves. Greedy’s familiar scent, leather and sweet vanilla, infiltrates my senses. The pungent smell of gasoline joins the mix, too, snapping me back to the moment.

“I’m going to grab something to eat, too. Can I get you anything?” Greedy shifts back, putting an arm’s length between us.

I miss the heat and solidness of him immediately.

“How about a slushie?” I suggest, my voice cracking from the unsteadiness I’ve been navigating for hours.

When I lift my gaze to his, he gives me that cocksure grin that hits me like a punch to the gut. His eyes light up like it’s the best damn idea we’ve had all day. Which isn’t true. Because that blowjob was actually his finest moment. And I’m the one who had to go and ruin it all by freaking out and running off.

“G. wait.” I grasp his hand, using it as an anchor to pull him back to me.

“Thanks. For earlier. It was—” I dip my head and focus on our joined hands, rubbing my thumb in small circles over his knuckles while I dig deep for the courage to spit the words out. “It was amazing. So fucking good.”

When I peek up at him, he’s watching me, gnawing on his bottom lip.

“You don’t have to thank me, Leev. I wanted it, too.”

He wanted it, too.

Those words almost bowl me over. What the fuck do I say to that? How the hell am I supposed to react when my best friend shares a confession so simple, yet laced with the power and potential to change everything?

Though has anything really changed? We’ve been friends for years. He only ever had eyes for Hunter, and I respect the hell out of his commitment, even if it was shockingly intense for a kid fresh out of high school.

Greedy is next-level attractive. He’s also generous and kind and loyal. I’ve never allowed myself to consider him as anything more than my best friend. His heart belonged to Hunter, even after she was gone. Yet he’s standing here telling me he wants me.

When I allow myself to think of him in that way? There’s no doubt in my mind. I want him. I’ve never given myself permission to want him before these last few days. Now that I’ve had a taste? There’s no way I can deny him or myself any longer.

Not only am I attracted to him and connected to him in a way I’ve so rarely experienced with anyone, but I want to care for him, grow with him, support him and be by his side for all the ups and downs life will surely throw our way.

Because I can see it. A future.

“I mean it,” I tell him, squeezing his hand. “So. Fucking. Good.”

A small smile turns up the corners of his mouth. “Thanks, man. Appreciate it. When you took off like that—”

“That was stupid.” I lower my head and give it a hard shake. “I shouldn’t have taken off. I got in my own head about Hunter. I was worried about her, and honestly feeling guilty that we were…” I trail off, not ready to voice the complexity of my shame and concern. “Doesn’t matter. We’ll have her back in a matter of minutes, right?”

Greedy raises his eyebrows, but he doesn’t argue with me. Kabir warned us that today’s recon mission could take several hours. Even so, I prefer to remain delightfully delusional about the whole thing.

“Strawberry slushie,” G confirms with a nod. “Anything else?”

I shake my head. There’s no way I can stomach anything else until we have her back and I know she’s okay.

Greedy takes a few steps back and gives me a once-over, green eyes full of warmth. It feels fucking good to be noticed like that—to be so seen.

I watch him too, and when he makes eye contact, I hold it, forcing him to be the one to finally break it when he has to turn around.

When he emerges a few minutes later, Spence is at his side, harping on the contents of the cups in Greedy’s hands.

“I don’t understand why anyone would put something that color into their body. How would one even describe that? Highlighter pink? That cannot be natural—”

With a grin, Greedy holds up the tall slushie cups and says, “Watch out, Leev. Spence is jonesing to try one. If you’re not careful, he might steal your slushie right out from under you.”

“I most certainly will not . And I’m not ‘jonesing’ for anything,” Spence argues, looking down his nose at Greedy. “Except perhaps a proper cup of tea and visual confirmation that Hunter is truly well.”

His dramatic declaration is all the reminder I need.

Blowing out a long breath, I replace the pump and turn to Greedy, who’s holding my cup out to me. I reach for it, my warm hand connecting with his ice-cold one. For a moment, we linger like that, watching one another, his somber expression matching the way I feel.

That implication—that she may not be well—has eaten at me since we discovered her missing. Now that we’re so close, my anxiety is tenfold. I just want her back. We all need to lay eyes on her, and to make sure she’s okay.

“She loves these,” I murmur, finally taking my drink from Greedy and ripping open the straw with my teeth.

“She does,” Greedy laughs under his breath. “Want to know a secret?”

I nod, and he grins.

“I never liked strawberry-flavored anything until that summer. But I love the way it tastes on her.” Then, wistfully, Greedy adds, “We’ll stop and get her one on the way home, okay?”

Fucking hell.

It’s bad enough I miss her so much my chest physically aches. That ache becomes a sharp pain when I have to witness Greedy and Spence each reeling without her, too.

I flip the fuel door closed, more determined than ever. “Let’s go get our girl.”