Fake Dating My Ex's Hockey Star Brother (Maya Scott) novel Chapter 159

ALLISON’S POV

As if finding a pathetic little letter from Sean wasn’t enough to ruin my day, Justin has to go and call me, torching any hope I had of salvaging even a mildly decent morning.

Honestly, I think men are officially banned from being trustworthy or decent, or even mildly competent. They are the worst. I mean, I knew that already but Justin really drives the point home.

And yes, before anyone gets mad at me, I’m not entirely blameless here. In fact, for the last twenty-four hours, I’ve practically made a full-time job out of blaming myself while skillfully avoiding Katy’s eyes.

I know I messed up. I know there are at least a thousand other men in Cadston I could have had sex with instead of Justin, and yet…here we are. I did it anyway.

Yep. I’ve owned my role in the grand disaster that is my life. I’ve accepted my place in this epic fuck-up, complete with a front-row seat and snacks. So why can’t he do the same?

Literally, all it would take is for him to admit it was all about sex. All those words he said? Bullshit. That whole demisexual sob story? Crap. That’s all I need to hear, and I could pretend none of this ever happened.

But no, he has to go on and on about being in love with me, like that makes everything okay. Love? Please. If it was love, he’d have tucked me into bed, instead of exhausting every condom he had. No guy with even a shred of emotional intelligence screws up this badly and then tries to slip love into the mix.copied from j-obnib;com. Well…except Justin Evans.

“I’m not gonna sit here and watch you self-sabotage. I owe you that much.” His annoying voice flits into my head.

I scoff and slam my closet shut. Who the hell does he think he is? A general in charge of my body? Has he always been crazy, or did he just lose his mind one night with me?

Because let’s be clear, he wasn’t even that good. He was just-

“Fuck, I’m coming.” My own voice crashes into my head.

I clap my hands over my ears, glancing around my room in pure panic, like Katy might somehow hear my thoughts through the walls. What the hell was that? Is my brain actively working against me now?

All I said was that sex with Justin wasn’t that amaz-

“Please…”

“More…”

“I’m so wet for you…”

“Okay, fine!” I snap, standing alone in my room, my chest heaving like I just ran a mile. Fine. It was good. I won’t deny that.

Actually, it was better than good. It was probably the best hookup of my life and it would take at least twenty men to get him out of my system.

But I will get him out.

I have to.

“Allie.”

I spin around to find Katy gawking at me, a toothbrush in her mouth, and her messy hair sticking every which way.

“How long have you been there?” I ask, trying to pull myself together.

She flicks her fingers all over. “Long enough to see you screaming at nobody.”

I chuckle, wiggling my shoulders. “Just practicing.”

Her eyebrows lift. “For what?”

“My new play,” I say, sprinkling on some nonchalance. “The mid-semester one. Forgot?”

“Oh…yeah,” she mutters, shaking her head. “I forgot about that.”

I tut. “Best friend of the year, right here.”

“Hey!” She scowls. “I’ve been busy. That’s not fair.”

Honestly, I have zero shame because if anyone deserves to be grilled right now, it’s me. I’m in the middle of a full-blown war with her brother, and here I am, guilt-tripping her into thinking her biggest worry is my stupid play. And she doesn’t even know what went down with Sean. Way to go, Allie.

Closing the distance, I pat her head softly. “Of course, I know you’re busy, bestie. Braydon’s taking up all your free time.”

I wink, fully expecting her to roll her eyes but instead, her face heats up like a damn blush factory exploded, and she fumbles to hide it. “That’s not true.”

I almost laugh because she’s so adorable. She’s like one of those high school girls who are completely new to the whole romance thing, stumbling around and trying to act cool while every tiny gesture makes them melt.

She wasn’t ever like this with Bryan, so clearly Braydon is working some kind of magic on her that she’s not equipped to handle.

I lean in slightly. “When things get steamy between you two, I want front-row seats.”

She huffs.

“Nothing’s happening,” she insists, puffing up her chest like she’s proving a point. “I have impeccable self-control.”

She’s about to turn away when I call her.

“What?” she blinks at me, her eyebrows arching.

I let out a slow exhale, trying to calm the nervous flutter in my stomach. Probably insane that I’m about to ask her and I know it’s ridiculous but her whole self-control thing is to blame. I need to make sure I’m not overreacting, not reading too much into Justin’s mess, and not being dramatic for no reason.

Or maybe this is the part of me that doesn’t want to put space between me and Justin talking, and I’m way too weak to fight it.

I inch closer, forcing a watery smile. “So… I’m reading this novel.”

As I pull out of the parking lot, the brake pedal feels mushy and I know something’s off. I pump it twice, teeth grinding.

“What an asshole.” I slam the heel of my hand against the steering wheel.

Sean didn’t fix this car. Did he even try?

For a second, I slow down, tempted to turn around, dump the car, and hail a taxi. But staying in the slow lane can also work and I’ll be back as quickly as possible.

I mutter a quick prayer, mash the gas, and in no time I’m off Cadston roads. I turn on some music, and one of Katy’s favorite songs starts playing. I exhale, staring at the passenger seat like she should be there. I wish she was. I wish I had the guts to tell her what went down with Sean but she’s way too empathetic for her own good. I’d tell her the same time my mum gets to hear it so I can absorb everything at once.

I’m busy thinking about what to say to my mum, that I don’t notice the slight dip in the road. The car begins to pick up momentum on the downhill slope.

I reach for the brake to coast into the upcoming red light.

My foot hits the pedal, but there’s no resistance. It doesn’t just feel mushy anymore but just sinks and hits the floorboard with a hollow thud.

“Wait,” I whisper.

I lift my foot and slam it down again. Nothing. The car isn’t slowing, it’s accelerating with the grade of the hill. 35… 40… 45.

The anger at Sean, the guilt over Justin, the embarrassment with Katy… it all vanishes, sucked out of the car like oxygen in a vacuum.

My stomach drops into my shoes.

“Oh God. No, no, no.”

I’m actually picking up speed. The car in front of me is getting closer…too close.

I start pumping the brake like a maniac, my whole body trembling, but it’s like it isn’t even connected to the car. My hands shake so violently I can barely keep a grip on the wheel.

“Stop…stop, please just stop,” I whimper.

The intersection is right there and cross traffic is moving. I’m not slowing down.

I swerve, the tires shrieking as I narrowly miss the bumper of a turning minivan, the driver’s curses tearing through the air as I fly past. My hands are white on the wheel, and I can’t breathe.

I’m going to kill someone if I don’t get off this road.

I jerk the wheel toward the ditch.

The utility pole at the corner is rushing toward me.

I don’t have time to pray. I just tuck my chin, squeeze my eyes shut and brace for the impact.