Page 127 of Stroke of Fate

I'm pretty sure we’re all kicking ourselves for making that dumb rule the first night we hung out freshman year for a night like this.

“Just hand out the cards already,” Austin tells his brother.

“Who’s ready to play some mother-fucking Snap!” Sam roars.

We each give him some version of an unenthusiastic grunt, but that doesn’t deter him. He shuffles the cards like he’s at some upscale casino, making a show out of it like millions are on the line. Spoiler alert: there’s not. But I guess his pride is another story.

The game starts, but my head’s not in it. My conversation with Bear wrecked me, and I'm still trying to come to terms with where we stand.

I was physically shaking when I had to close her bedroom door behind me. Afraid it would mean closing the door on us and, ultimately, a future with her.

A life without Bear isn’t one I’m willing to accept, which is why I spent all night going through every possibility of what could have happened.

No one knows me better than I know myself, which is why I can say with absolute certainty: I did notwillinglycheat on Bear.

It’s only ever been her. It will only ever be her.

I already have a plan in motion, one that should give me a fighting chance to prove I’d never hurt her like that.

Unfortunately, I need to be patient for another day or two. And then, hopefully, I can get my girl back.

I won’t let this become the biggest regret of my life.

But God, I miss her.

I miss how she’d crawl into bed next to me and we’d fall asleep wrapped in each other’s arms. I miss hearing her soft, off-key singing in the shower. I miss her petal-soft lips on mine.

Bear is my sunshine, and without her, my life is a fucking dreary mess.

“Levi,” Mack nudges me with his elbow, bringing me back to the present.

When he nods toward the growing pile of cards on the table, I realize it’s my turn.

“Right, my bad.” I draw a card and toss it down.

It must be a match because Sam's hand shoots out in a flash, slamming onto the pile of cards.

“Snap, motherfucker!” he yells, sliding the cards toward him.

Before he can start gloating, the doorbell rings. Everyone but Sam lets out a collective sigh of relief, knowing that whoever interrupted us also saved us from having to hear it.

The second I get up, Mack runs his mouth behind me. “That must be the strippers we ordered for you, Levi. Cheer you up a little, buddy.”

I flip him off over my shoulder, not in the mood to entertain his joke, but it only makes him crack up more.

Not bothering to check first, I open the door. My breath catches in my throat when I see who it is.

I grip the door handle tighter to stop myself from reaching out and touching her like I want to. We’re not there yet, and I can't bear the thought of rejection.

Instead, I focus on memorizing her features all over again. Her ocean-blue eyes and smooth golden skin—I take it all in. When I reach her full lips, my heart gives a tiny squeeze of hope.

She’s smiling. Not a full-on smile—just the corner of her mouth pulling up—but it’s enough.

“Who is it?” Austin shouts, and I chastise myself for stupidly staring at Bear.

Clearing my throat, I shift closer to her, using the door as a shield between us and the three pairs of eyes watching from behind me.

“Hey.”

---