Fake Dating My Ex's Hockey Star Brother (Maya Scott) novel Chapter 152

ALLISON’S POV

“Sean, what’s wrong with this car?” I ask, glancing at him as he finally looks up from his phone.

“I don’t know. Something’s a bit off with the brakes.”

“And you didn’t think to tell me until I asked?”

“Relax, baby. I’ll fix it,” he says, already dropping his eyes back to whatever he’s doing.

I let out a slow breath and turn to the window, because I honestly don’t have the energy to argue. I didn’t sleep at all last night, not even a little. Every time I shut my eyes, Justin’s face popped up, his voice right after it, saying things I didn’t ask to replay in my head.

And then there’s the fact I ran away from him. I actually did that. I couldn’t face the truth, and I couldn’t face the person saying it to my face so I ran. I don’t even know what made me do that…whether pride, hurt, shock, or all of it slamming into me at once.

I just know I couldn’t stand there and listen to him say those things, couldn’t handle the way every word felt like he was calling me stupid without saying it outright.

Like I’m the fool who doesn’t realize her boyfriend is a piece of shit while everyone else apparently does. The fool people gossip about when I walk past, the girl dating a loser and parading him around like he’s the best thing that ever happened to her.

Those words almost impaled me.

Exhaling, I steal a glance at Sean. His fingers are tapping fast as he plays his stupid game on his phone, completely locked in. He just got back from seeing his mum and he hasn’t asked if I missed him. I don’t think he even noticed my eye bags or anything.

We’re headed to his apartment and I already know how this usually goes, how he’ll pull me close and expect to get some action tonight. Why does that disgust me now?

“Sean,” I say.

“Mmm.”

I swallow. “Why don’t we ever go on dates?”

He finally looks up. “What?”

“Like… other couples,” I add, already hating how this conversation is going. “Why don’t we ever do fun things together?”

He snorts. “We do, Alls.”

“Like what?”

“That anniversary trip.”

My fingers curl harder around the wheel.

“I planned that by myself,” I respond. “I mean you. Why don’t you ever take me out? Or take me to places I actually like?”

He scratches his forehead, then smiles. “That’s not a big deal. I can do that from now on.”

I let out a slow breath. “Do you even know what I like?”

He nods. “Yeah. We’ve been together for two years.”

I can’t believe I’m borrowing Justin’s words but I say. “How long isn’t how well, Sean.”

That wipes the smile off his face. He turns his game off and leans one arm against the car door. “What does that even mean?”

“You don’t watch my plays or support my drama club stuff. I literally always have free tickets and somehow you’re always busy.” I pause, then keep going because if I stop, I won’t finish. ” You don’t take me out on dates. You don’t get me flowers unless you’re apologizing and most of the time, it feels like the only thing you really pay attention to is how I dress or how I look.”

He chuckles, like this is funny. “Who’s filling your head with all that, Allison?”

I slam the brake without thinking, and the car jerks violently.

“Allie,” I snap, glaring at him. “It’s Allie to you and-”

“I forgive you… because you look cute,” he says.

I smile, then pout just a little. “Yayyyy.”

He shakes his head, muttering something under his breath, and steps back to grab a dirty plate off the couch. “I’ll clean up quickly and order in.”

“Okay,” I reply, dropping my purse on the couch. “I need to pee.”

I pad to the bathroom, shutting the door behind me. Only when I’m sitting down do I realize l forgot my phone, and of course, that’s the exact moment my body decides it’s time for number two. Great. I groan, staring off at the blank wall, wishing I had remembered my phone or literally anything else to distract me.

When I finish, I’m just about to flush when a buzzing sound cuts through. I freeze for a second, listening. What’s that? Just as I’m about to ignore it, it buzzes again, louder this time and there’s no denying it: it’s a device.

A frown sweeps across my face as I glance around. I didn’t bring my phone in here… so what the hell is making that noise? Am I losing it?

Seconds pass without another sound, and I start to convince myself that maybe I just imagined it. That my ears are playing tricks on me. I flush, wash my hands, and even take a deep breath.

But just as I’m about to turn and leave, the buzzing starts again, and my stomach twists into knots. There’s no way this is in my head.

I scan the bathroom, checking the vanity cabinet but there’s absolutely nothing. Then I follow the buzzing to the mirror and something at the edge catches my attention.

My pulse jumps and my hands go a little shaky. I lean closer, peeking behind the frame and then my eyes widen. Is that… a phone?

Reaching out, I pull a phone off the wall, and it’s wrapped in transparent plastic. Whose phone is this? Does Sean have a second one? And why hide it here like, who even does that?

My hands start trembling as I unwrap the plastic. I try Sean’s password and, of course, it works instantly. Okay, that settles it, this phone belongs to him.

I notice a flood of messages from a group chat, and my heart is pounding like crazy. What’s on here that he doesn’t want anyone to see?

I click the messages and my stomach drops, because the first thing I see is my name.