Page 58 of Stroke of Fate

“No, shit.” Mack splutters, swallowing hard. “She friend-zonedyou?”

“Yes, that’s what I just said,” I mutter, annoyed that I have to hear that vomit-inducing sentence again.

“Because she’s not attracted to you or not looking for anything serious?”

“Oh, she’s attracted to me, alright,” I say without hesitation. This isn’t even me being cocky. The night I left her outside her apartment after dinner, I could practically smell her arousal. Bear can run and hide all she wants, but I know she feels this pull between us as much as I do. “It’s more like she’s resisting whatever is between us.”

“Interesting.” Mack muses, drumming his fingers on the table.

“What?” Suspicion coats my words.

“I think I might have a solution to your problem.”

I have a feeling I’m going to regret asking, but I’m so damn outside my comfort zone with Bear I might as well take advice where I can get it.

“And what’s that?”

“Two things,” he says, holding up two fingers. “Give her time and give her a reason to trust you.”

I rolled my eyes. “That’s the worst fucking advice ever.”

"No, hear me out. If you show her she can trust you, she's more likely to open up to you, making the idea of being with youmore appealing.” He crosses his two fingers, aligning them as one.

“But I know what I want, so why not go for it right now?”

“Youknow what you want, but she doesn’t. Not yet, anyway.” He leans back in his chair. “If you come on too strongly right away, you risk scaring her off.”

I let his words sink in.

I’m an all-in-or-nothing sort of guy. I don’t half-ass anything, and having such strong feelings for Bear so quickly makes me want to bulldoze my way into her life.

I rub my jaw thoughtfully. “Maybe you’re right.”

“Of course, I’m fucking right.” Mack gloats, taking a sip of his drink. “From now on, call me the Mr. Miyagi of relationships.”

I throw my crumpled-up napkin at him, but the asshole dodges it easily, laughing as he does.

“Why don’t you invite her to the bonfire? We can go together as a group. Tell her to bring her friends. That way, it doesn’t feel so intimidating.”

The bonfire is an annual event that marks the start of fall. However, the swim team uses it to signify the beginning of the competition season. After that, partying slows down for most of us because we travel nearly every weekend for swim meets.

“Bear and Macy are friends,” I reply, watching him closely. “She might be there too.”

Mack doesn’t react, and his lack of reaction worries me more. “The more the merrier, right?” He says flippantly.

“Mack,” I narrow my eyes at him. “Just don’t make things weird.”

The last thing I want is for my best friend to be on the outs with one of Bear’s friends.

He chuckles. “You worry too much, Levi.”

“Whatever, there’s going to be fire, and Macy looks like the type to throw your ass in it if you annoy her,” I mutter, not wanting to baby him but also not wanting to see him get hurt.

And if there’s one thing I picked up about Macy, it’s that she’s not afraid to hold her own against anyone. And Mack seems to be at the top of her shit list.

“Oh, I know.” He grins like the idea isn’t fucking terrifying.

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