Page 122 of Stroke of Fate

When I hear the front door opening, I push off the chair and move to the window, watching the raindrops pelt the glass.

When the door opens, his familiar scent fills the space, and a wave of nerves tighten my chest. I fight the desperate urge to drop to my knees and beg him to tell me it’s all a misunderstanding.

I still love him.

I’m angry and hurt right now, but underneath it all, my love for him remains steadfast, perhaps foolishly so.

I’d do anything to have him take me in his arms and tell me everything will be okay. Thatwe’llbe okay.

But wishful thinking is a bitch.

I can feel Levi’s gaze burning into my back as he waits for me to acknowledge his presence.

My eyes follow a single raindrop as it winds down the windowpane. When it finally disappears, I inhale deeply, count to three, and turn around.

Levi looks like shit.

His hair is wet and messy like he’s run his fingers through it a hundred times. His eyes are bloodshot and sunken in. The black shirt he wore to the party is wrinkled and covered in raindrop splatters.

Of course, it is.Shetook it off him, let it fall to the floor, and that’s probably where it stayed until they were done.

The reminder has me taking a step back just as Levi moves toward me. A flicker of pain crosses his face, but I don’t let myself feel the pull of sorrow. If I give in now, if I comfort him, there’s no hope of making it out of this with my head held high.

As the silence stretches on, I let the one emotion that will keep me from breaking down fester in my gut.

Anger.

“Bear,” his voice cracks, echoing through my bedroom.

The grief spilling into his tone gives me pause. He looks so helpless. Surely someone unfaithful by choice wouldn’t sound sobroken? Unless this is all an act as well.

My emotions intertwine with my memories, both old and new. I see Levi. I see Hunter. And I see myself—the girl who is, once again, collateral damage to broken promises.

Stealing my spine, I ask the one question only he can answer. “Why?”

“Bear, please.” He begs.

My chin quivers at the agony in his voice, but this is his fault. We’re here because of him.

“Tell me why, or get out.”

His throat bobs before his eyes flick to the ceiling. When they return to mine, I ignore the moisture pooling in them despite the sting in my chest at the sight of them.

“I don’t know what happened,” he whispers.

“I think the video explains things pretty well,” I say, knowing he would have seen it if he was at the dorm like Mack claimed.

I was next to Elsie when she sent it to Sam. I told her to send it to him.

“I would never do that to you.” He rasps. “Not after you confided in me about your past. Especially not after I told you your heart was safe with me. Please, I’m begging you to believe me.”

“You were drunk. People do stupid stuff when they’re drunk,” I choke out, forcing back a sob.

Levi lets out a frustrated groan and runs a hand through his already messy hair. “I had two and a half beers, Bear. Tell mehow I wake up with no memory of the night before after two and a half beers?” A hint of panic seeps through his words.

But all I can do is stare at him. Anything I say to that will sound like I’m defending his actions.

I curl my hands into fists, letting my nails dig into my palms. The sting grounds me. It’s easier to focus on the physical pain than the tornado of emotions swirling inside.

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