Fake Dating My Ex's Hockey Star Brother (Maya Scott) novel Chapter 133

KATY’S POV

I read Logan’s text over and over, grinning like an idiot before finally exhaling and shoving my phone into my pocket.

I’ve been to Montreal twice since Braydon joined the team, sure, but this? This is actually the first time I’m stepping foot inside their training rink. My stomach does that fluttery thing you only get when you know someone’s about to see you and not expect it. I can’t wait for the look on his face.

Even from outside, this place is huge. The building towers over the street like it swallowed the block whole, all glass and steel reflecting the sun. But the moment I step through the doors… wow. It’s massive. It’s even bigger than Braydon described, and I have to pause for a second just to let it all sink in.

As I walk past some staff, I feel their eyes on me. I’m sure they’re wondering who I am or if I’m a new hire. Nope. I’m the college girl who flew in for her boyfriend’s birthday, and I can’t wait to see him.

“Just show them your ID,” Logan’s text had said. “They’ve been prepped. You’re basically VIP for the day.”

I flash a little smile at the security personnel at the front desk. They glance at my ID, nod, and wave me through like I’m a celebrity guest. Part of me feels special but the other part thinks this is just rookie perks for Braydon because his Coach didn’t seem hard to convince.

At the end of the hallway, which was starting to feel endless, the rink finally opens up. I hear the scrape of skates before I see anyone, then the snap of pucks hitting sticks. The rink is dazzling, bright white light bouncing off the ice, off helmets, off the red and blue that paint the boards and jerseys everywhere.

I edge through the empty seats, careful not to make noise, and creeping toward the thick plexiglass that separates the benches from the ice. If I’m right, they’re still in the middle of practice, and Braydon should be out there somewhere. My eyes dart across the blur of men skating, sticks swinging, and bodies leaning into tight turns.

Then someone turns toward me.

He freezes mid-stride, and I catch that brief flicker of confusion as he tries to figure out who I am, and what I’m doing here. That pause is all it takes because the men around him notice too. They slow, craning their necks, all eyes subtly shifting toward me.

And then Logan spots me just as I see him too.

He skates forward, his grin spreading across his face. “Katy! You actually made it!” He leans on the boards. “Took you long enough, I was starting to think you’d chicken out.”

“Ha! Me? Chicken out? Never,” I say, grinning back. “Just had to make sure I looked cute for the big reveal.”

Logan laughs, shaking his head. “Yeah, yeah.”

Before I can thank him for helping, someone comes flying across the ice and collides with him. I jump back, horrified, but he just brushes it off.

“No way,” Number 24 exclaims, yanking off his helmet. “You’re… real?”

Heat rushes to my cheeks. “Uh…hi,” I say, waving awkwardly.

Number 53 skates over to join the group, and suddenly I’m surrounded by seven heads peering at me, all curious and a little amused.

“Katy, right?” one of them asks.

I nod, blinking at them.

I have no idea what’s happening, and where Braydon is while his teammates stare at me like I’m some rare Pokémon or a limited-edition sneaker drop, I’m not sure.

“You’re… prettier in person,” another says, grinning. I tilt my head, unsure if that’s a compliment.

“Uhhh…thanks?” I mumble, fidgeting with my bag strap. “Do…you know…”

“Now I get why Coops is losing his mind,” someone from the back shouts, laughing before skating off.

“Okay, okay,” Logan says, holding up his hands. “Back off, everyone. Let the girl breathe.”

They disappear as fast as they came, and Logan gives me a funny, apologetic look. “Your boy talks about you a lot, so naturally… they all know who you are.”

“A lot is an understatement,” I mumble, staring back at the blur of skaters. “They all seem to know me, like we’ve met before or something.”

Logan is the only one of Braydon’s teammates I’ve actually met before at his apartment during one of my visits. It’s also how we got in touch in the first place so I’m surprised to hear the rest talk about me casually.

“Coops is in the gym,” he says. “I’ll get him for you.”

He skates off when I nod and I run a hand through my hair, trying to calm my racing thoughts. I’m still nervous, even though he’s my boyfriend and I think it’s fair since I haven’t seen him in two months, and I’ve really missed him. A few of his teammates glance in my direction, probably still curious, and I pretend not to notice.

Braydon told me before that they’re really good to him, considering only four rookies joined the team this season. He’s the youngest on the squad, surprisingly, so most of the guys have families. He gets invited to eat with them often, which makes sense since they treat him like one of their own.

“Baby!”

I spin around and freeze for a split second. Braydon’s rushing forward from a backdoor behind me with a wide smile. I meet him halfway, and he lifts me off my feet as I wrap my legs and arms around his waist and neck.

He holds me tight, his chest rising and falling against mine as he mutters into my hair. “Baby, I’ve missed you. I’ve fucking missed you.”

I press my face into his shoulder, laughing a little against him. “I’ve missed you too.”

When he finally pulls back, all sweaty from practice, I lean in and kiss him. The rink, the noise, everything around us fades. He deepens the kiss, and my body warms, months of longing and yearning finally spilling over.

“Coop! Practice isn’t over!” someone yells from the ice. Laughter erupts from others, and we slowly pull apart, both of us grinning despite the interruption.

“How are you here?” Braydon asks, still holding me up, his eyes wide with excitement. “Last night you said-”

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