Page 124 of Stroke of Fate

Only when the door opens and shuts behind him do I finally let it out.

He never did tell me why.

35 | BEAR

I snuggle deeper into the couch, attempting to focus on the TV. But I fail miserably, because my thoughts keep spinning, no matter how hard I try to quiet them.

Pia insisted I attend my morning lectures even though I wanted to spend the day entertaining her. In the end, I’m glad I went, even if all it did was keep my mind preoccupied with other things for a few hours.

When lunchtime rolled around, we met at Kneadful for a bite to eat. Afterward, I showed her around campus. It was exactly the type of day I needed, and I managed to get through it without breaking down.

But now that we’re back at my apartment, not even my comfort show is enough to keep my mind from spiraling.

I haven’t heard from Levi, except for a single “I love you” text this morning. And I haven’t seen him since he walked out of my bedroom yesterday.

I know it’s because I asked for time, and he’s respecting that, but I also know I can’t keep dragging us down this uncertain path. I need to either let him go or forgive him so we can move forward.

Except now, I’m starting to think that maybe there’s nothing to forgive. My gut tells me something isn’t right, that this isn’t like last time. I can’t explain it, but I feel it bubbling beneath the surface, urging me to pay attention.

The night I saw the video, I was in such shock that my brain couldn’t comprehend anything else. Now, however, logic is catching up to me, and something isn’t adding up. If I’m honest, it never did.

Maybe a part of me is trying to justify his actions because I’m still holding on to the hope that we can figure this out, but it’s more than that. Something pleaded with me to listen the night Levi walked away from me at the party, but I chalked it up to paranoia.

The one thing that keeps replaying in my mind is how Levi looked at me when he came over. It’s what made me step back, reassess the situation, and rethink everything I thought I knew.

When Hunter cheated, he looked guilty. He looked like someone who got caught doing something bad, bad enough that he couldn’t even look me in the eye because he knew there was no denying what he had done.

Levi lookedbroken. Like someone about to lose everything, and there was nothing he could do but watch it crash and burn around him.

I can’t shake the look of agony in his eyes. But I also can’t find it within myself to let what happened go so easily, at least not then. I didn’t want to be so naively in love that I forgave what I couldn’t forget.

And what I can’t forget is the video. Everything always comes back to that video.

What I first thought was a heated moment of passion now seems orchestrated, if not a little creepy.

What are the odds that the person in the video was dressed like me, with waist-length blonde hair, too? And that a phone was conveniently nearby, ready to record the whole thing? But if it was orchestrated, who would be cruel enough to do something like that?

I sit up straight, the answer hitting me smack bang in the chest, knocking every bit of sense into me. “Holy shit, Pia.”

Her startled gaze meets mine. “What?”

“Grab my phone and play the video.” I’d do it myself if it weren’t on the end table closest to her.

“What video?” She frowns, but whatever she sees in my expression must make her understand, because she shakes her head. “No, Bear, that’s not a good idea. You’re only going to hurt yourself more.”

“That’s the thing,” I say quickly, my thoughts going a mile a minute. “I think someone was trying to hurt me. Or possibly Levi. I don’t know yet, but I think the video could hold the answers.”

Her brows dip lower. “What? I’m not following.”

Idon’t want to say anything more until I’ve seen the video again. Even then, I might not find what I’m looking for, but it’s worth a shot—a painful shot. I don’t want to see it, but I need to know if what I’m thinking is right.

“Play it, but screen mirror it to the TV.”

Pia lets out a strangled noise and stares at me like I’ve lost my mind. “If this is some weird form of reverse psychology to help you get over him, just know I don’t support it.”

Despite the ball of anxiety I feel over what I’m about to do, I laugh. “It’s not that. I think I missed something the first time.”

After some more grumbling from her, she does as I ask.

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