I finally opened my eyes...
And all I saw was her.
My honeybee.
The girl who’d saved me.
Phoebe
I couldn’t breathe.
Letty clutched my hand, squeezing gently every now and again to make sure I was still alive.
Levi Hunter had written me another song.
But not any song.
A love song.
My body shook gently as I tried to fight off the swell of emotions rising inside me. I’d been waiting for him to say the words, and he’d chosen here... surrounded by all these people.
“Phoebe?” Letty said, as I began to back away. I needed air. It was too hot in here, too dark and claustrophobic. The walls closed in around me as Levi watched me from the stage.
“I- I just need...” To go. I needed to go.
But I was rooted to the spot, held captive in Levi’s dark gaze as he strode across the room to me.
“Bee,” he whispered, reaching for me.
That one little word broke me. Tears spilled freely down my cheeks.
“Shit,” he rasped, pulling me into his arms.
“We’ll just be...” Letty pulled Eva away, leaving us alone.
Levi’s grip on me tightened, as if he never planned to let go. “I’m so fucking sorry,” he said. “I should never have said that. You’re mine, Bee. Of course you’re fucking mine.”
I finally lifted my head to his, drying my eyes with the back of my hand. “You wrote me a love song.”
He nodded shyly, rubbing his jaw. “I’ve been writing it for a while.”
“You have?” I balked.
Levi ran his thumb through my tears, swiping them away. “I’ve wanted to tell you so many times. But every time I tried it was like this fear would take hold and I couldn’t do it. I’m messed-up, Bee. Really fucking messed-up.”
A couple of people brushed past us and Levi growled, pulling me further into the shadows. I noticed Johnson and Stalter move with us. Always there in the background, guarding Levi.
“After you left, I went to some bar. I sat there for an hour trying to drink a glass of vodka. An hour. But I couldn’t do it. No matter how much I tried to break her hold on me, I couldn’t do it.”
“Oh, Levi...”
“I’m going to see somebody,” he said. “Fiona. She’s nice. I think she’ll be able to help me.”
“A therapist?”
He nodded. “She comes highly recommended. It’ll be hard with being on tour, but she thinks we can make it work.”
“That’s huge, Levi. I’m so proud of you.”
He glanced down, rubbing the back of his neck. When he looked up again, I saw a flash of vulnerability in his eyes. “I don’t want to be like this anymore, Bee. I want to be better... for you.”
“Levi, I—”
“Just hear me out, please.”
I nodded, feeling a tight ball of emotions lying heavy in my stomach.
“I spoke to the label.”
“W- what?”
“I had a conference call with management this morning. I told them that having you on the tour was non-negotiable. If I couldn’t have you there, then I wasn’t going.”
“Levi, you can’t—”
“Already did.” A faint smirk traced his lips. “You’re too important to leave behind, Bee.” He inched closer, taking the air with him. Levi’s hand glided down to my neck, holding me gently. My breath caught in my throat as my body hummed with anticipation.
“I love you, Phoebe Halstead. I don’t know when or how it happened, but I fell, Bee. I fell so hard that I must have hit my head or something because I know I’ve been an asshole. I know I should have called or texted; but the truth was, I was scared. I was fucking terrified I’d ruined the one good thing in my life.”
He leaned in, touching his head to mine, breathing deeply. “I love you, Bee. So fucking much. And I know I’m hard work, I know I’m not gonna change overnight, but I’m here and I’m trying. So, what do you say, honeybee? Want to see the world with me?”
My heart raced in my chest as Levi’s confession flowed through me.
He loved me.
Levi Hunter loved me.
I didn’t know which part to focus on. The fact he’d finally declared his love for me, or that he’d given the label an ultimatum about me.
It was a lot to process.
But then, being around Levi had never been a walk in the park. He felt differently to most people. His emotions were often exaggerated and larger than life.
But he loved me.
He’d chosen me.
I wasn’t foolish enough to think there wouldn’t be relapses, or bumps along the way, because addiction was a long, painful road to recovery. But there was no mistaking the steely determination in Levi’s eyes.
He wanted this.
He wanted me.
“Yes,” I breathed. “Yes, I’ll go on tour with you.”
“And the other part?” he asked in a soft whisper, as if he was almost scared to say the words.
“What other part?” I teased.
“Yeah, Bee, the part where you’re mine forever?” His mouth moved dangerously close to mine.
“Oh, that part... well, I guess we could give it a shot. But I don’t want you to get your hopes—”
Levi smashed his lips to mine, swallowing my words. I moaned at the taste of him, the feel of his hands on my body, his tongue curling around my own. A couple of people cheered, and I was sure I felt the flash of camera, but it didn’t matter.
It didn’t matter that we were in a roomful of staff from the label, because I was the girl who owned Levi Hunter’s heart.
He’d given it to me.
Handed it over willingly, and this, right here, our lips sliding together, was my promise to keep it safe.
“I love you Leviathan Hunter,” I breathed against his mouth, finally coming up for air.
His eyes sparkled with relief, but then smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “I love you too, Bee. And I can’t wait to rock your fucking world later.”
“Tonight was a good night,” Letty said as we all stood near the bar, watching the party rage on around us.
“The fucking best,” Hudson declared. “I’m so happy for you guys.”
“Is he okay?” I whispered to Levi, who had his arm wrapped around my waist as I stood with my back to his chest.
After very publicly claiming me as his, Levi had refused to let me go. We’d spent the entire night chatting to people and working the room together, some part of us always touching. I saw the stares of curiosity, heard the whispers, but I didn’t care. Nothing was going to ruin this night; not a damn thing.
“Okay?” Hudson overheard me. “I’m better than okay, Pheebs, I’m fan-fucking-great.”
“I’m sad she couldn’t come too,” Eva said, laying a hand on his arm.
“I’m not sad... why the fuck would I be sad?”
Hudson drained the rest of his beer. “Molly isn’t my girl, we’re not together... fuck, I need another beer. Hey, Bryan, get me another.” He waved his empty at someone.