Fake Dating My Ex's Hockey Star Brother (Maya Scott) novel Chapter 167

ALLISON’S POV

“Explain this to me like I’m five,” I say to Chioma. “Because literally nothing you said over the call yesterday landed in my brain.”

She exhales, clearly trying to stay patient. “Allie, you’ve been out for two weeks and you just had surgery. We thought it would be best for Celeste to step in and play your part while you recover.”

My eyes flick to Celeste, standing all calm and annoyingly put-together beside her, and anger flares inside me. No way on earth am I letting her replace me. Not a chance, not even close.

“You make it sound like I’ve been away for two weeks on some vacation,” I snap. “I had a car crash and almost died.”

“Exactly, that’s the point.” She swallows and whispers, “We just… felt like you need time to… to get better. It must have been traumatic, and it would be unfair to ask you to play the main lead right now.”

I scoff, rolling my eyes. “Unfair? None of you even bothered to visit me at the hospital.”

They both avoid my gaze, looking at everything but me. Honestly, I’ve never liked Celeste…never. But I didn’t expect Chioma to pile on me like this.

“Allie, I think we should-”

“I’m not letting her take my part,” I cut in, shaking my head. “I know all my lines. Unless there were some massive, last-minute changes to the play, I can handle it. And even if there were, it’d take me a day to get it.”

“I’ve also learned all the lines,” Celeste responds, rolling her eyes. “You’re a business major having fun in drama club, but some of us actually need more roles than you.”

Oh, so that’s it. She doesn’t think I deserve the lead because I’m not an arts major. Classic move of trying to snatch my parachute and shove me off a cliff lines

I swivel to face her. “We had an audition, Celeste, and I clearly remember you stuttering your and giving the facial expression of a dying sloth. If you actually cared about this role, you’d have beaten me in the audition. Instead, you got a minor part I’m not even sure has five lines, and now… you want to play lead?”

“There’s no need for insults,” Chioma interjects.

“You’re already insulting me,” I nod towards Celeste “Trying to steal my part from me for this bitch.

“You’ve got to be shitting me,” Celeste mutters.

“No, I’m not shitting,” I shoot back, stepping a little closer, and letting my glare do most of the work. “I’m standing perfectly fine here, Celeste. There’s no shit. Just facts.”

Chioma exhales, pinching the bridge of her nose.

“That’s enough, Allie.” Her voice hardens, and she folds her hands, looking at me with this disappointed stare that’s supposed to make me feel guilty. “Even if the team wanted to reconsider the decision, your attitude isn’t exactly helpful.”

“So now it’s my attitude?” I suck in a breath and blow it out. “The mid-semester play is in nine days and you suddenly get this brilliant idea to switch the lead? How does that even make sense?”

“The decision was made almost a week ago,” she answers. “Celeste has already been rehearsing but you just found out about it yesterday.”

Now, I really want to bite her. If I open my mouth again, I might actually sink my teeth into her armsand not even regret it.

It’s not even enough that they’re both hiding behind my so-called recovery time but it’s obvious that this is a full-on gang up. The way they’re standing, their stiff posture, and the carefully blank faces like they rehearsed this conversation.

And Celeste-oh, Celeste is doing that innocent act. Like she just stumbled into the role by accident. As if she didn’t plan this, didn’t push for it, didn’t wait for the perfect moment to slide in and take what isn’t hers.

My jaw tightens. God, I want to bite them.

I cross my arms and smile, even though I don’t feel like smiling at all. “I’m playing my original role. Celeste can try to push me off the stage if she wants,” I glance at her. “Just a heads-up though, I bite.”

I turn to leave, Chioma’s voice calling after me, but don’t slow down. Then I almost collide with Aaron, our vice-president, and step back before we crash into each other.

I frown. “Aaron… did you know about the change?”

The answer is all over his face and I scoff under my breath. Great. So this was a group project.

“Let’s talk,” he says.

“I already did with Chioma.”

“Trust me.” He walks past me, heading straight back to her.

I hesitate, my fingers curling at my sides. If I go back there and whatever they’re about to say doesn’t include me keeping my role, I might actually lose it.

With a quiet groan, I follow him back into their little circle and Aaron smiles at me.

“She’s been extremely rude to me,” Celeste says before anyone else can even speak. “It’s not my fault she crashed her car.”

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