So Rare (Boys of South Chapel #3)

21. Hunter

Chapter 21

Hunter

NOW

I wake up in a disoriented haze and prop myself up on my elbows slowly to get my bearings. I’m on a boat. A boat that’s knocking into the side of the dock hard enough that the impact ricochets through the cushioned seat and makes my whole body jolt.

“Shh, you’re all right,” a deep voice soothes.

It’s a voice I recognize, but in a removed, distant kind of way.

It’s a voice I should know, but it’s one I can’t quite place.

It takes another moment to realize I’m leaning against the source of the voice. Gingerly, I sit up and scoot a few inches away.

Once I’m no longer touching him, I lock eyes with the boy beside me.

My head knows who he is immediately.

Levi.

I’m with Levi.

He’s one of my oldest friends. He’s Greedy’s best friend.

Greedy . My heart stumbles. “Where’s Greedy?”

A flash of hurt crosses Levi’s face. Sitting up straighter, he nods toward the dock. “He’s helping Spence tie off the boat.”

His words are clipped and cool, like he’s upset, but I don’t know why. I duck my head, trying to meet his gaze, but he won’t look me in the eye.

I search his profile, willing him to turn back my way. Instead, he focuses on his feet, his hands steepled and his forehead resting on them.

“I hate boats,” he says quietly.

Instinctively, I run my hand along his cheek, the need to soothe him innate. He closes his eyes, and with a long breath out, he sinks into my hold. There’s a desperation churning inside him, and it emanates from him as if it’s a silent plea.

I don’t know what he’s asking. I don’t know what I’m missing.

After another breath, it all feels like too much. I pull away and clasp my hands in my lap.

Finally, Levi meets my gaze. His denim-blue eyes are filled with anguish. They’re accusing in their hardness, like this is all my fault.

Defeat and shame wash over me. “I’m sorry.”

He’s hurting. I’m hurting him.

I shift over again, putting a bit more space between us.

Based on Levi’s response to the move, it’s the wrong thing to do.

With a frustrated growl, he rises to his feet and stalks to the other side of the boat. It’s only a few feet, but it’s as far as he can get from me. It might as well be miles for the crater of loneliness that’s growing between us.

I watch, helpless. Despite how badly I long to, I can’t console him. Not when I’m the source of his pain.

For a moment, I consider faking it. Calling out to him. Telling him it’s all coming back to me.

I’ve never lied to him before, though. Or at least, I don’t think I have. I hate the idea of upsetting him like this. I hate the idea of being disingenuous even more.

As I rack my brain for what could have happened between us to cause such a rift since I came back to town, another thought hits me.

Levi is here. In North Carolina.

“Levi.”

His head snaps up, and he meets my gaze.

“Why aren’t you at school?”

His terse expression only hardens, morphing into something fiercely troubled. He stares at me for a breath. Then another.

Pain rolls off him in waves, his frustration so palpable I can feel it from the tip of my head to the soles of my feet. Rather than smooth things over, it’s obvious I’ve just made things worse.

Finally, Greedy appears by Levi’s side, skirting past him and coming to stand in front of me. “Let’s get you inside, Tem. You need rest.”

I do. But Levi is struggling more than I am right now. Though apparently I can’t give him what he needs. So, defeated, I sigh and sit up straighter.

Greedy offers me both his hands, which I grasp and use to pull myself up. The boat sways slightly as we exit.

Kabir holds out one hand to help me step onto the dock, and when we touch, an intense energy rises between us. Tentatively, I meet Spence’s eyes and am met with patience. Compassion. Understanding. This expression is the antithesis of the one Levi fixed on me.

Without another word, Levi brushes past us and storms up the dock toward the Crusade mansion.

As I watch him go, I wrap my arms around my front and shiver. It’s brisk, the breeze off the lake damp and cold.

I don’t realize I’m frozen in place until Kabir gently tugs on my arm. “Give him time, love. A bit of space. He’ll be all right.”

As I find my footing, Greedy rests a hand on my low back, guiding me along the rocky beach.

If space is what Levi needs, he’s about to get that in spades. The mansion looming ahead of us is absolutely massive. The Crusades have more than enough space for all of us.

Spence emits a low whistle once we’ve entered the house and reset the security system.

“Right. I believe this qualifies as adequate accommodations. Well done, Kylian Walsh.”

Greedy squeezes my hand, the two of us in on the joke. Technically this is Decker’s house, but it’s entertaining to let Spence think Kylian is the mastermind around here.

“There’s a gym,” I tell him. Lights turn on automatically as we move from the great room to the kitchen. “A theater room. I think there’s even a hot tub.”

“You hear that, champ?” Spence calls to Levi across the kitchen. “They’ve got a hot tub.”

The statement is infused with innuendo that only seems to piss off Levi more.

Greedy sighs, clearly tuned in to Levi’s frustration.

Shrugging—my mind is still far too muddled to work through what the issue is, so I may as well move on from it for now—I rest my forearms on the quartz countertop of the kitchen island.

“Kendrick’s mentioned it before. I’ve never been in it, though.”

Dense silence settles in the air, yet another moment, another reaction I don’t understand.

“What am I missing?” I eventually ask when the room remains silent.

“You remember this place?” Levi asks, his brows low and his voice tight.

I nod. “I do.”

“Because Joey lives here?” he pushes.

“Yes. Joey lives here with Decker, Locke, Kendrick, and Kylian.” My chest fills with pride at the ease with which the names come to me. I’m still myself. It’s all still in there. I’m just… foggy right now.

Levi pushes off the massive kitchen island and grips the roots of his mop of blond hair.

“Come on, Leev,” Greedy hedges. He looks from me to his best friend, then back again. “Give it a rest for tonight.”

But Levi doesn’t let up. Gripping the edge of the bar once more, he clenches his jaw, icy eyes narrowed on me. “So you remember all of them—”

“I’ve known them for years,” I fire back, uneasy.

He pushes off the counter and explodes. “You’ve known me for years, Hunter. You’ve known Spence for years longer than you’ve known Joey.” He paces toward the great room, only to pivot and storm back into the kitchen. “This is bullshit. Total fucking bullshit.”

When he turns around on his second pass and gives us his back, I panic. Because as he storms away, I’m hit with the deeply seated fear that’s lived inside me since my dad left me alone with my mother.

Everything I love leaves.

“Wait! Don’t go.”

I make it all of three steps around the island before Spence intercepts me. A moment later, Greedy hovers close behind me.

Overprotective assholes.

“Levi,” I plead, desperate to get through to him.

Forlorn blue eyes reluctantly meet mine, then look away just as quickly. As if he can’t stand to look at me. As if I’m the root cause of all his pain.

With an exasperated sigh, Levi crosses his arms over his chest. “I’m not leaving. But I can’t stand here and pretend this isn’t fucking killing me.”

The last two words come out broken.

I’m hurting him, and I don’t know how to stop.

“I’m sorry,” I sob. “Levi, I’m sorry.”

Head lowered and focus averted, he turns and heads for the great room again. “I’ll take one of the second-floor bedrooms.”

Greedy hugs me from behind, and I crumple into a heap of sorrow.

“I’m hurting him,” I cry. “I don’t not remember. I just—”

“It’s all right, love,” Spence coos. “Your well-being should be your only concern tonight. Though Garrett says you’re okay, and I trust his medical assessment.”

I nod. I trust Greedy, too. And like I said: I don’t not remember Levi or Spence. There are just foggy spots in my mind, tarnished memories living below the surface of my consciousness.

I hate that my mother took me the way she did, lying to everyone—including herself—that we were enjoying a mother-daughter trip.

Even more, I hate what she took from Levi. From Spence. I hate what they’ve endured because of her. Because of me.

“We all need rest. We’ll regroup once you’re feeling up to it, then we’ll go from there,” Spence determines. His features are etched with resolve, but there’s an underlying bit of sadness present in his face, too.

Seeing him mask his pain on my behalf hurts almost as much as Levi’s outburst.

Spence is right, though. There’s nothing more we can do tonight.

“I’ll go up to Joey’s room and see what I can find to change into,” I tell the guys, though I don’t move. I can’t. It’s as if my shoes have been superglued to the floor beneath my feet.

Because, I realize, I don’t want to be alone. Not even for one second.

Decker’s house is as secure as the Pentagon, I’m sure, and the isle itself means no one can access this place without a boat or swamp vehicle.

Still.

I shudder at the thought of Magnolia attempting to come here. Of her finding me. Of being taken against my will yet again.

As if reading my mind, Spence steps forward and places a tentative hand on my mid-back. “You’re all right, love. You don’t have to do any of this alone. I’ll escort you upstairs. Wait while you gather some things. Would you prefer to sleep in the same room as Garrett tonight?”

A glance at Greedy confirms we’re on the same page.

“Decker said we could use the primary,” he offers gently.

Nodding, I reach out and squeeze Greedy’s hand. I hate to be away from him, even for a few minutes. “I’ll be right back down.”

“After you,” Spence says coolly, holding out an arm toward the central staircase.