Page 101 of Stroke of Fate

I chew my bottom lip, contemplating what to wear as I stare at the pile of clothes on my bed. I have no idea what he has planned for tonight, and all he told me earlier was to dress comfortably because we’re staying in.

With that information in mind, I settle on my go-to outfit for when I don’t need to dress up: a pair of leggings and anoversized sweatshirt. Even as I go through the motions of getting ready, a buzz of nervous energy lingers under my skin.

In the days following our weekend at his mom’s house, I realized I wasn’t falling in love with Lev. I was in love with him.

Iamin love with him.

And I haven’t told him yet. I want to so badly, but I get nervous and chicken out whenever I think about it.

Some nights, while we’re watching Netflix, I want to blurt it out, but then I talk myself out of it, worried he doesn’t feel the same way or that I’m saying it too soon. But I can’t deny how I feel. Not with him.

I thought what Hunter and I had was special, but compared to this? It was nothing but teenage love. A love for a season. And for a reason. A reason that brought me right to Levi.

And I am so wholly in love with him that no amount of pain or anguish from my past matters any longer. Not when it led me to him. Practically to his front door.

Tonight, I want to tell him.

***

Entering Levi’s apartment, I’m about to announce my presence when the words die on my tongue.

Holy shit.

His living room has been transformed into what I can only describe as a giant blanket fort constructed from white sheets and held together by various pieces of furniture. Fairy lights strung across the fort’s makeshift roof cast a soft glow across the room.

My emotions are all over the place. Joy, happiness, love, and gratitude ping-pong through me, never settling on one for long.

Levi’s head pops out from the fort’s entrance, and my heart melts, knowing he did this for me.

“Welcome to Casa Blanket Fort,” he grins, and I hurry to join him.

“Levi, this is…” Sweet? Incredible? Wonderful? I can’t find the right words to express what I’m feeling, so I settle on “Amazing.”

“Wait until you see the inside,” he says excitedly, and I can’t help but smile at how proud he looks.

Moving the sheet to the side with one hand, he gestures for me to enter with the other. I slip off my shoes and crawl into the cozy space. There are so many pillows and blankets that I can’t even feel the floor beneath me.

When Levi lets go of the sheet, it feels like he’s enclosed us in our own little world. It’s cozy and intimate. And so perfect. I still can’t wrap my head around how much effort he put into this forme.

“I can’t believe you did this,” I say, feeling my throat tighten with emotion of the good kind.

I’m so happy I could cry.

“I can’t take all the credit,” he admits sheepishly. “Mack introduced me to Pinterest, and well…” he trails off, gesturing to what’s around us.

“Seriously?” I laugh, not sure if it’s funnier that Mack introduced him to it or that Levi actually scrolled through all the endless ideas on the app.

“Seriously,” he confirms. “For someone who doesn’t do the whole exclusive thing, he sure has a knack for knowing what girls like.”

“I think he’s secretly a romantic at heart.”

“Maybe, but don’t tell him you think so. His ego is big enough already.” He rolls his eyes, but the corners of his lips stay tilted. “You ready for some food and a movie?”

“Yes, show me what else you have up your sleeve, Whiskey Eyes.”

“Give me a sec,” He kisses me quickly before slipping out.

A few moments later, Levi returns, holding a covered tray.

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