Page 113 of Stroke of Fate

“Ride’s going to be here in fifteen minutes,” Macy says, looking up from her phone.

I nod and make my way through the crowded living room, making it outside with a relieved sigh. I was tipsy earlier, but now I’m completely sober, and having drunk people bump into me isn’t nearly as amusing as it was at the start of the night.

I spot Levi near one of the beer pong tables and sidle up to his side. He wraps his arm around my shoulders and kisses my head.

“We’ve got a ride coming in a few minutes,” I tell him.

“Okay, I’ll come with you,” he says.

The slight slur in his words makes my brows dip in confusion. The beer in his hand is about a quarter full, but I’m pretty sure it’s the same one he had when we left the bathroom. Then again, he was playing a drinking game, and from the looks of it, every cup on the table is empty. He definitely could have had more to drink while I was inside with the girls.

“I’ll come with you guys,” he repeats, setting his beer down. But he misjudges the table's edge, and the bottle topples to the ground.

“Shit,” Levi mumbles as the liquid seeps into the grass beneath our feet.

Austin goes to pick it up, clapping Levi on the shoulder. “You doing alright, man?”

“Drinking on an empty stomach was not a good idea.” He laughs, but again, it sounds off.

“I hear you, something’s gotta soak up this shitty beer.” Austin chuckles, leaving us to throw the empty beer bottle in one of the nearby trash cans.

Levi rubs at his eyes, and when he blinks, they look clearer, more focused. Even the smile he gives me, which causes the butterflies in my stomach to stir, oozes his usual charm.

“You still up for meeting me at my apartment?”

“Yes,” I smile, willing myself to stop overreacting.

I’ve never seen him drunk, and now that he is, I’m being paranoid for reasons I can’t explain. I know Levi’s not a big drinker. But that doesn’t mean he can’t have a night of letting loose like everyone else.

He won both his heats today, and we’re celebrating my birthday. Or we were, considering it's well past midnight.

He deserves to have as much fun as anyone here, and I’ll gladly take care of him tonight if I have to.

“I need to use the bathroom, but I’ll meet you out front in five?”

I nod, hugging him around the waist. “Love you,” I murmur. For some reason, I feel the urge to say it right now.

“Loveyoutoo.” He says, the words blending into one.

I watch him walk off. His movements are slow but steady, which I take as a good sign. I hurry back to the girls and we head to the front yard.

“What color is the car?” Elsie asks, rubbing her bare arms up and down.

“White and the license plate ends in 196,” Macy says.“Hopefully, the driver lets Levi sit in the front. Some people are weird about that.”

Speaking of…where is he?

Concern claws at my insides as the minutes tick by, and he still hasn’t shown up. Even if there is a line, he should have been back by now.

Either way, standing here waiting seems counterproductive.

“I’m going to go look for Levi,” I say, feeling the need to do something.

“Do you want me to come with you?” Pia asks.

“No, stay here.” It’s better if we don’t split up even more.

“Okay, but hurry,” Macy says. “Driver’s ten minutes out.

---