Fake Dating My Ex's Hockey Star Brother (Maya Scott) novel Chapter 182

ALLISON’S POV

I’m crouched in one corner of the rehearsal room, lacing my sneakers with fingers that are slick with sweat. My hair is sticking to the back of my neck, my muscles are screaming, and all I want in life right now is a shower and about ten hours of sleep.

“You know you cheated, right?” An annoying voice comes from behind me.

I sigh dramatically before even bothering to turn around. God forbid I get a single peaceful moment on this campus.

Straightening, I turn to face Celeste, already exhausted. “What the hell are you talking about?”

She steps closer, folding her arms across her chest in that classic mean-girl power pose. Honestly, someone should invent a new stance. This one’s overused.

“Aaron told us to sell the tickets ourselves,” she says, her tone dripping with accusation. “Not get other people to do it for us.”

I scoff, giving her nothing but an amused look so she knows exactly how ridiculous she sounds. The entire rehearsal, she couldn’t hide her jealousy over me getting the lead role.

She kept throwing in unnecessary advice, hovering, and nitpicking, until even Chioma had to tell her to dial it back. Not that I care. One of us is going to be the star of this play, and it’s definitely not her.

“Did Aaron actually say that?” I ask at last, tapping my chin like I’m thinking it over. “Because I wasn’t really paying attention, so I must’ve missed that part.”

She huffs. “You’re being a bitch right now, aren’t you?”

I shrug. “I’m just asking you to explain your logic. What’s so offensive about that?”

Her lips twitch, like she’s barely holding herself back and wants to attack me with insults. Honestly,

I kind of want her to let it all out. Say whatever she’s been bottling up, because it’s not like I’m her biggest fan either.

“What’s your connection with Justin?”

…Okay. That, I did not see coming.

My eyes narrow as I stare at her. Wait. Is this suddenly less about the tickets and more about Justin?

“Why do you want to know?” I ask, my fingers curling at my sides. I don’t even understand why her question gets under my skin like this, but it does. My brain keeps spinning up ridiculous, impossible scenarios, and I hate that I can’t shut them down fast enough.

“You know what, never mind.” she smiles. “You’re his sister’s best friend. I guess it’s normal for him to do things like that for you.”

“And?” I shoot back. “Why are you so concerned?”

“I’m not,” she says flatly. “Justin and I have something going on, so I was a little… annoyed that he decided to help you instead of me. But whatever. He’ll do anything his sister asks.”

I want to punch her, just a clean, solid hit, strictly for dental rearrangement.

She’s obviously rage-baiting me, and I’m stupidly falling for it. My brain keeps telling me there’s nothing real between her and Justin, that she’s just running her mouth, but the way my chest tightens says otherwise.

And I hate that I suddenly want to know more.

“He didn’t do it because of Katy,” I snap. “She had no idea, so get that stupid assumption out of your head.”

“Then why did he do it?” she cuts in, a little too fast. A little too desperate.

Oh.

She likes him.

Now, I want to know everything, starting from how close they got, how often they talked, whether they’ve kissed, and whether he’s ever looked at her the way he looks at me. These thoughts churns something ugly in my stomach, rising to my throat.

Swallowing my curiosity, I close the distance and lean in just a little. “Why don’t you ask him?”

Before she can even fire back, I grab my bag and brush past her, nudging her shoulder. Her curses trail behind me, but I don’t care. Whatever is happening is one-sided and that’s why she’s so wound up. I have to believe that.

Justin’s mine, at least in my head. He’s said he’s not into anyone, and hasn’t been with anyone for a long time. Maybe it’s selfish to cling to that, especially when I haven’t exactly returned the favor, but I can’t help it. I don’t like sharing him, not even a little.

A few steps away from the theater, a black BMW eases up to the curb. I glance over and pause when I see David’s behind the wheel, a smirk plastered across his face like he owns the world.

“Walking?” he calls out, eyebrow cocked. “Aren’t you supposed to have a car?”

I force a smile, though it feels more like a grimace. Hi…David.”

He leans over and unlocks the door. “Get in.”

I hesitate. Walking fifteen minutes to my dorm sounds way better than being trapped in a car with him, even for two minutes. He’s the last person I want to deal with on a day I’m trying to be…good.

Sure, his dad got me a car, but last I checked, that didn’t come with a lifetime membership to like him.

“You don’t have to go out of your way,” I say. “My dorm’s close.”

“I’m actually here for you,” he responds. “Decided to wait for rehearsals, but I guess I was late. Hop in.”

Well, there goes my plan for a peaceful evening walk.

I slide into the car, shut the door, and lean back against the seat. He better drive fast because I have zero time to waste on sightseeing with him.

We pull into my dorm parking lot, and I barely wait for the car to stop before reaching for the door.

“Allie, wait.” he calls as my hand hits the handle.

I groan internally and slowly turn to face him, almost smacking my back against the car door as he leans in closer, his face dangerously near mine, like he might kiss me.

“Let’s date, Allie.”

Silence. Pure silence and hot air leaving my nostrils

I blink, half-expecting him to laugh it off or say something to change the subject.

“I think it’s long overdue,” he adds.

I peel myself off the door, my brows furrowing. “Long overdue?”

“Yeah,” he says, leaning back just enough to meet my gaze. “We almost went out in your first year, but I got swamped with my schedule and well, I guess I hurt your feelings. I think I can do better this time.”

Excuse me? Did he just try to make it sound like I was heartbroken because of him? That our first chance didn’t work out because of his busy schedule? What an egotistical bastard.

“You never hurt my feelings,” I snap, fixing him with a stern look. “I wasn’t interested in dating you, and I think I made that pretty clear. Is this really your spin? That I was heartbroken over you?”

His smug expression doesn’t change. “Well, we must’ve attributed different reasons for why we didn’t work out, but I always thought I was too busy for you. I tried to-”

“You tried and you failed,” I cut him off. “I told you, David, our values don’t align. You want a clean, obedient trophy you can flaunt at your fancy clubs, but that’s not me. I have dreams, ambitions, and I refuse to be boxed into some kitchen-perfect mold by a man who thinks that’s my place.”

His jaw tightens. “Are you still hung up on that? Seriously, what’s so wrong with being a stay-at-home wife? Most women want it. I can afford your luxuries and all I need from you is a warm meal and kids. What’s so bad about that?”

“I want to be an actress.” My voice shakes, but I hold his gaze. “I want to be on TV, on billboards, to reach every height my passion can take me. Have you ever wondered if I even want kids? Or that, God forbid, I can’t cook? All you think about is yourself with that head of yours twice the size of a normal human being.”

I can see the anger flicker across his face, the darkening of his eyes.

“Actress?” He spits the word like it’s absurd. “You want to be a popular actress?” He runs a hand through his hair, leaning back against the seat, and chuckling like he’s humored by my ambitions. Then his gaze flicks back to me. “Do you really think you can make it just because you win a few awards at Cadston? Or are you planning on… fucking your way to get a script?”

My hand slaps against his cheek, and his eyes snap wide in shock. Before he can grab me, I shove the door open and stumble out, gasping for air.

“Have you lost your mind?!” he yells, his face flushed red.

I glare at him, every ounce of hatred boiling through me. “Good luck finding a housewife, you cockroach.”

“Allison!” he roars as I pivot and stride away. Heads turn in our direction but I don’t care as rage burns so hot it drowns out everything else.