Page 130 of Stroke of Fate

That’s the thing. I wasn’t thinking. I had Bear on my brain. It was a mistake, one that nearly cost me the best thing to ever happen to me.

“I needed to use the bathroom,” I say quickly. The details of Bear and I’s sex life aren’t up for discussion. “It doesn’tmatter. The point is, I did. And if someone saw me leave it there, it was the opportunity they needed.”

“How would we even prove that, though? If you were drugged, that shit could be out of your system by now.” Mack says, his nostrils flaring. “The party was on Saturday. It’s already Monday.”

“Especially if you barely had any in your system.” Sam tags on.

“I know. That’s why I spoke to Coach this morning after we gave him our urine samples.” It’s a standard thing we do before meets, but they don’t test for everything. “I asked him to have the lab run some additional tests.”

Drinking isn’t prohibited, but we’re expected to exercise caution, knowing that anything we do might jeopardize our scholarships or place on the team.

Needless to say Coach Schmidt was pissed. Not at me, but at what I suspected had happened. I left out a lot, but he got the gist of what I was saying. He encouraged me to file a police report, but I told him I couldn’t do that based on a hunch alone. He eventually gave up trying to convince me and told me he’d take care of it.

“This is some fucked up bullshit,” Sam spits.

“He said he’d rush the results, so I should have them in the next day or two,” I tell them.

Which is also when I was planning on telling Bear everything. I knew she might not take my word for it, and she’d have every right not to after seeing the video. Hell, there were moments when even I questioned myself.

I also didn’t want to make her feel like I was backing her into a corner with my story. If the results come back positive, what happens between us will still be her choice.

But I need her to know that what I did wasn’t done willingly. I can’t bear the thought of being another person who hurt her that way.

Beside me, Bear has gone quiet. When I look over at her, her eyes are glassy. She quickly wipes at her face, but it's too late. I've already seen the stray tear slide down her cheek.

Seeing her this upset kills me. She lets go of my hand before excusing herself to the bathroom.

I’m seconds behind her, leaving the guys to talk amongst themselves.

The door is closed, but it opens without resistance when I try the handle. Bear’s hunched over the sink, hands gripping either side of the basin, and when she turns, the anguish on her face makes me rush toward her.

I pull her into my arms, and she melts into me.

“I’m sorry,” she says between sniffles. “For doubting you. For not realizing sooner that you’d never purposely do something like that to me.”

“Shh, you don’t have to apologize for anything,” I murmur, running my hand down the back of her head.

My hate for Sadie intensifies. Not just for what she’s put Bear through these last few days but for everything leading up to it. I know there’s no use in looking back and thinking of the should-haves,but I never should have dropped my fucking guard when it came to her.

At this point, I couldn’t care less about what happened to me. The girl in my arms is all that matters.

She is my everything.

I feel like I’ve let Bear down in more ways than one, and if I’m lucky enough to get a second chance, I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to her.

I hold on to Bear until her choked sobs quiet down, and she takes a deep, ragged breath.

“I don’t understand why she would do this to us,” Bear croaks.

A pit forms in my stomach. I know what I’m about to say will only hurt her more, but I can’t keep this to myself any longer. I close my eyes, breathing in her scent, wishing so badly that my past didn’t have to come back and bite me in the ass.

“Bear,” I whisper, and whatever she hears in my voice makes her step out of my embrace.

She’s as beautiful as ever, even with red, puffy eyes and tear-stained cheeks.

“What is it?” Her voice is small and unsure.

“About Sadie. There’s something you should know,” I say. “I didn’t tell you before because it was in the past and meant nothing to me.”

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