Page 26 of Stroke of Fate

We really were, but it also felt like much more than that.

Her lips twitch as she studies me. The longer she stares, the pinker my cheeks grow. Thank goodness for the dim lighting inside the car.

“Looked kinda intense. Is there something going on between the two of you?”

My immediate reaction is to deny it, to tell her no. But I can’t get the words out because… maybe? I’m saved from answering when the back door opens, and Elsie slides into the car, settling in the middle seat.

“Sorry, my dad called me right after I used the bathroom, and he wouldn’t stop going on about my credit card statement this month,” she says with an exasperated breath.

“All good. I had to see Preston anyway,” Macy says, pulling out of the parking lot.

I glance at the side mirror, watching Levi's headlights fade the further we drive. I can't shake his dejected expression from my mind. I hate being responsible for putting it there, but I have my reasons, even if he doesn't know them.

“So, Bear,” Elsie says, snapping me from my thoughts. “Since this is your first official week as a Silver Wolf, it’s only fair we accompany you to your first Huska party this weekend.”

“We?” Macy lifts a brow at her in the rear-view mirror.

“Yes, we, as in you and I, Macy.”

I can’t help but laugh at the tortured look on Macy’s face.

“I’ve been trying to get this one to come with me all week,” Elsie explains, waving her hand in Macy’s direction.

“I told you, I have to work. And so do you!”

“Your dad owns the place. You can get out of it,” Elsie says at the exact moment I blurt, “He does?”

“Co-owns, " she corrects, then adds, “He and a friend own it together. But he doesn’t handle the day-to-day running of things. That’s all Preston.”

“You know you can ask Preston to swap our shifts, and he’ll do it. It’ll be fun, right, Bear?” Elsie looks at me with a broad smile and hopeful eyes.

The thought of going out and partying this weekend with my new friends sounds exciting. And it beats staying inside doing nothing, which was my original plan.

My smile widens as I reply, “I think Elsie’s right.”

Elsie whoops in delight while Macy groans good-naturedly.

“I can already tell the two of you together will not end well for me,” Macy whines, though the smile in her voice is evident.

“You’ll be thanking us after a few Jell-O shots.”

“No, please, no. I learned my lesson at the last party.” Macy shudders at the memory as if she’s reliving the effects. “Bear, promise me if I get us off the schedule, you’ll make sure to rein Elsie in.”

Elsie snorts from the back seat. “Oh please, like your brother would even let us have a repeat of the one time it got a tiny bit out of hand.”

“Brother?” I ask, glancing at Macy.

“Twin brother,” she clarifies, not taking her eyes off the road.

“And he’s the biggest party pooper ever,” Elsie chimes in.

“Hayden is not a party pooper. He’s just more responsible than Ms. Jell-O shots over here,” Macy says, giving Elsie a pointed look. “And might I remind you, he was the one who made sure we both got home safely that night.”

I peek over my shoulder at Elsie. “Okay, no shots involving Jell-O, just normal shots?” I joke.

She giggles, shimmying in her seat. “That’s the spirit, Bear; I knew I liked you.”

We spend the rest of the drive in high spirits, discussing the party and hashing out the details. When Macy stops outside my building, I say goodnight to both girls and head inside.

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