Page 90 of Stroke of Fate

“Just a goodnight kiss, promise.”

I walk her backward to a wall hidden from view of the door before pushing her up against it and covering my mouth with hers. The kiss quickly grows deeper as I trail my hands under her shirt, earning a soft, sweet moan from her.

Fuck, I love how responsive she is to my touch.

Before my fingers can graze her bra, Bear’s palms push firmly against my chest, forcing me to back up.

Straightening her shirt, she steps around me, giving me a stern look.

With her puffy lips and big blue eyes, she’s too adorable to take seriously.

“Okay, Mr. Can’t-Keep-His-Hands-to-Himself. Go before I make a bad impression.” She whispers, pointing to the door.

“All right, I’m going.” I chuckle, adjusting myself.

It’s cute how hard she’s trying with my mom when just being herself is enough.

“Goodnight, Levi.”

“Sweet dreams, Teddy Bear.”

I kiss her forehead, then head across to the study for a date with the damn pull-out couch.

26 | BEAR

Pia: How’s Levi’s meat??

Pia: I mean meet ??

A laugh bursts out of me when I read Pia’s text. The night after Levi and I made it official, I phoned Pia. She knew everything that had happened until that point anyway, so it was only right that she was the first to hear about it. I filled Macy and Elsie in the next day at work.

None of my friends were surprised by the news. They were happy, yes, but not surprised. Apparently, I was the only one who didn’t see it coming.

I quickly reply and put my phone away when I spot Sophia walking toward me with a drink in each hand. She offered to get us something from the concession stand during intermission. We’ve been here for a few hours already, but the time has flown by, and getting to know her better has been great.

I had some reservations about meeting her this early into our relationship, but now I’m glad Levi talked me into coming this weekend. She is one of the coolest moms I’ve met and easy to be around. There’s been no stilted conversation or any awkward silences, thank goodness.

As she climbs the bleachers, a few lingering stares follow behind her. It’s not difficult to see who Levi got his good looks from. While his mom’s eyes are a darker shade of brown, they share the same sharp features and high cheekbones. Her thick black hair falls down her back, and her smooth, tanned skin is flawless.

Sophia reaches our row, and I move my purse from the seat next to me to the floor, freeing up her spot.

“One water and—” she rummages around her bag, pulling out a snack bar— “something to hold you over until we get out of here for dinner.”

“Thank you, you’re a lifesaver,” I say, taking the drink and bar from her.

I didn’t know I’d be this nervous watching Levi compete. My appetite has been nonexistent since breakfast this morning. The nerves and excitement have been enough to keep food off my mind. But now, my stomach growls at the sight of the bar.

“When Levi first started competing, I’d be driving to his meets and wonder why I ever signed my child up for a sport that took hours to finish,” she says, shaking her head with a smile as she recalls the memory.

“How did he get into swimming?” I ask curiously, taking a bite of the bar.

“He’s always been an active kid, and I knew he’d need an outlet for his energy, but I was working nights at the time,” she fills me in. “Swimming was one of the few sports that aligned with my schedule.”

“It must have been hard having to do everything by yourself,” I reply, thinking about how my parents sometimes struggle to manage everything on their plate. And there are two of them!

“If I look back, I can’t fathom how I juggled everything, but somehow, it worked out.” She laughs.

Our conversation is cut short when the next round of swimmers start to emerge one by one. The crowd cheers for their favorites, and I spot Levi immediately.

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