Fake Dating My Ex's Hockey Star Brother (Maya Scott) novel Chapter 164

JUSTIN’S POV

A three-piece suit.

He actually came in a three-piece suit to see Allison. I should probably not be this worked up because he looks ridiculous, but I can’t help it.

And the flowers? I’ll never get why people think bringing those giant things to a hospital is a good idea. She doesn’t need them, she doesn’t want them. They’re the last thing anyone in a hospital actually needs.

This David dude… is the most annoying, spoiled man I’ve ever laid eyes on. But I shouldn’t care especially with the way Allison’s looking at him, like she wants him to evaporate any second.

I don’t know if anyone else in the room notices it, or maybe I just know her too well. Either way, this suit guy has no clue. If he did, he’d know she doesn’t give a damn about those stupid flowers right now. He’s still as stiff and clueless as he’s been since freshman year.

“I’ve missed you,” he says, reaching out to tuck her hair behind her ears. “It’s a good thing you’re okay.”

“David, you should sit on the bed,” Mrs. Katherine chips in beside me, beaming like she’s witnessing the best thing in the world. “Sadly, this room’s a bit small, and that’s the best we can offer.”

Suit guy puffs out his chest. “Then I should upgrade her to a better room,” he says, sneaking a glance at me. “Don’t you think so?”

My teeth grind together in pure disgust. Is he seriously trying to flex his wealth? For what? I haven’t said a word to him, haven’t given him any reason to think he’s in competition. Or is this just… who he is-showing off to anyone who’ll look?

“You don’t have to,” Mrs. Katherine quips, though the sparkle in her eyes says otherwise. “We’re perfectly fine here. You really don’t have to…”

“I insist,” he cuts in. “I’ll make inquiries. Consider it done.”

I shift my gaze to Allison, who’s completely zoned out. I want to step in, to stop this ridiculous display but her mom’s here, and I know how terrified Allison would be if I do anything to even hint at that night. She’d be crushed so all I can do is stand aside, grit my teeth, and endure this aggravating show with her.

“It’s your dad,” Mrs. Katherine announces, lifting her ringing phone. David beams proudly. She moves to the corner to answer it, and soon a flood of thank-you’s and praise fills the room.

That must be the car she’s been scheming to get for Allison.

When the call ends, she rushes back, her eyes wide “Alls, that was Mr. Blythe. He said he’ll send a new car as soon as you’re out of the hospital. Can you believe it?” She practically shoves past me, almost knocking me over, just to grab David’s hand. “Your father is such a generous man.”

At this point, David’s already racking up more points than me and he’s making sure everyone notices.

“I told him about the car the moment I got off the phone with you yesterday, he brags. “I even picked it out based on what I remember she likes.”

“Oh, you’re so sweet,” Mrs. Katherine sings, then fixes Allison with an expectant look. “Won’t you say something?”

Allison chuckles dryly. “Thank you, David. I really wanted a new car, so… this is nice.”

“It’s no big deal,” he replies smoothly. “What matters is that you’re happy and safe. Any half-decent guy around you would’ve noticed your car needed fixing but that’s all in the past.”

“She’s not “I start to say, but the door slides open and Katy steps in. Her eyes dart around the room before she gives a stiff little wave.

“Katy, come here!” Allison calls.

As Katy steps closer, her gaze zeroes in on suit guy. “David?”

I can’t help but raise an eyebrow. She actually remembers him.

He waves a hand. “Hey.”

Katy greets him, then nods at Mrs. Katherine before her eyes land on me and finally on the mountains of food stacked on the table. She gasps “Justin, did you bring all this?”

Before I can even answer, she rushes over, and peeks into every bowl like a kid in a candy store.

She grabs one and holds it up to Allison. “You’re not hungry anymore, right?”

Allison shakes her head, and Katy-completely shameless-plops into a chair and digs in.

Sometimes, she’s really clueless.

Silence falls across the room, and I can feel Allison’s gaze on me. My mind’s racing for ways to get David out without starting a scene, when Katy finally breaks the quiet.

“David, why did you stop hanging out with Alls?” She asks, her mouth full. “I actually thought you dropped out.” Jesus Christ.

Once we’re outside, Mrs. Katherine beams at me. “Don’t you think they look cute?” I lift a brow. “Who?”

“Allie and David,” she says, clearly expecting me to swoon.

Katy’s already moving away, so I give her my honest answer.

“No.”

Her smile falters. “You don’t think so?”

“I think Allison is uncomfortable,” I say, shrugging. “And she’s not a huge fan of him. To be honest…

she’s not a fan at all.”

She scoffs, playfully nudging the argument. “She’s just tired. Or shy…she can be shy, you know. I know her better than she thinks and I also think David’s a fantastic guy. Allie’s graduating soon, and she needs people like him, connections like him, to get ahead in life. We can’t exactly rely on her doing that by herself.”

She pats me lightly before walking away and I watch her go, a sigh slipping out of me before I can stop it.

Mrs. Katherine is a nice woman. She’s generous, warm, and endlessly kind to everyone except Allison. And even then, I can’t tell if it’s love, or maybe obsession. Whatever it is, she’s determined to fold Allison into a box she’s already designed. A box she likes. A box that makes sense to her.

It’s just that it’s everything Allison hates.

And it’s everything I hate too.

To her, David is the perfect gentleman because he’s wealthy, because he’s pre-law, because he checks all the boxes that eventually turn into fat bank accounts and comfortable lives. She wraps it up as concern for Allison’s future, Allison’s comfort, Allison being taken care of.

But I hate it.

I hate it so much because there’s no part of that box she wants that I belong in. No corner of it

where I fit. Nothing in it I can offer yet.