Fake Dating My Ex's Hockey Star Brother (Maya Scott) novel Chapter 189

ALLISON’S POV

The second I step into Greeze Bar, my eyes start scanning the room, jumping from table to table until they finally land on Jessy.

He’s already grinning at me and I laugh, rushing over and throwing my arms around him as he stands. I bury my face in his shirt. “I’ve missed you” I mumble. “Like… I’ve actually missed you so much.”

“I wish I could say the same,” he mutters, pure sarcasm.

I pull back just enough to glare at him, though the smile refuses to leave my face. We’re basically wrapped around each other in one corner of the bar, and I couldn’t care less. With Jessy, nothing ever feels awkward.

When we finally pull apart, I catch his eyes and squint. “Hold on. Did you get double-eyelid surgery?”

He gasps dramatically, slapping a hand over his mouth. “You noticed?”

I scoff. “If I don’t, who would?” I drop into one of the chairs, leaning my elbows on the table. “Don’t tell me you already clocked in for work. When did you get back? And be honest, was I the first person you texted? Also, where are my chocolates?

He lowers himself into the chair across from me, crossing his arms. “You need to relax with the interrogation. One question at a time.”

“Hand over the chocolates.” I crook my fingers at him. “Then you can start talking. And yes, you owe me every juicy detail.”

He rolls his eyes but still reaches down, lifting a small gift bag from the floor and setting it on the table. My eyes light up instantly. I snatch it, already grinning as I peek inside.

“Did you get all of these for me?” I ask, sounding way too excited.

He glances around exaggeratedly. “I don’t see anyone else sitting here with us. Do you?”

“You’ve gotten sassier,” I tell him, scrunching my nose. “Maybe I’m the one who needs a vacation.”

He chuckles, and even though I’m dying to tear into the gift bag, I force myself to leave it alone.

“Anyway,” he says, leaning back, “I’m here because my place is a disaster. I hired some cleaning guys and my sister’s babysitting them.”

“And when exactly did you get back?” I ask.

“Yesterday.”

I arch a brow. “You sure about that?”

“Girl, since when did you become the travel police? We both know he’s lying. He knows I know.” You were basically the first person I texted, excluding my ex, obviously.”

I roll my eyes. “I vividly remember you bragging about coming back a whole new person. So?” I gesture at him. “What’s actually new?”

“A lot of things.” He leans in, eyes lighting up. “I met this guy, and you will not believe how compatible we are.”

I snort. “You say that about literally everyone you meet.”

He frowns, but I’m not wrong. Jessy is obsessed with compatibility. Star signs, birth charts, rising moons…if it exists, he’s memorized it. And if it doesn’t, he’ll find someone on Etsy to invent it. There’s this one witch he swears by, and pays actual money to, just to confirm his so-called compatibility tingles. I’ve tried to talk him out of it, but he’s way too far gone. At this point, the only thing she’s truly good at is locking him into monthly payments.

Worst part? She once convinced him to dump one of his exes, the one I genuinely liked. I still haven’t forgiven her for that.

“Listen, he’s not the usual type I go for,” he says, which, by the way, I’ve heard at least four times since we met. “But… he has potential.”

“Really?” I say, letting the sarcasm drip.

He scoffs. “I bet he’s way better than Sean.”

My smile dies instantly, like someone just punched me in the face. I try desperately to pull it back together, but it’s gone. Jessy notices immediately and his eyes narrow.

“What’s that look?” he asks, leaning closer. “I sense something.”

“Something like what?” I reply, trying to sound casual but failing.

“Animosity, bad vibes. I’m always right about stuff like this.”

I exhale. “A lot happened while you were off the grid. A lot.”

“You broke up?” he asks, raising an eyebrow.

“Do I really have to spell it out?” I snap.

I force myself to compose. “Nothing.”

Not convinced, he turns slightly, following my gaze, then looks back at me. “I think I recognize a few faces… Aren’t those-”

“Yeah.” I can’t bring myself to look in that direction again. “Sean’s friends.”

The same friends he sent my photos to. The same friends who knew exactly how he played me for years and actively participated. The same people who violated my trust without permission.

They’re there, sitting, laughing, and completely unbothered.

It’s messed up, but at least Sean isn’t here. Not Josh either. I force myself to act normal, pretending my body isn’t trembling, pretending that seeing them doesn’t feel like a thousand ants crawling across my skin.

“Do you want me to kick them out?” Jessy’s voice snaps me out of my spiral. “What happened with Sean? You look pale.”

I don’t even realize I’m pinching my skin until I glance down at my hand.

“No… just let them be.” I inhale shakily. “It’s not like it would do me much good. Besides, Sean and his stupid best friend aren’t here, so they’re nothing

Except the second I say that, Josh walks into the bar. I shouldn’t have noticed, but there’s a new tattoo snaking down his arm, and he looks… happy. Really at peace. My fingers curl into fists, anger burning hot in my chest.

As if his presence wasn’t enough, he slides into a chair opposite me, and our eyes lock. He stiffens for a moment, eyes widening slightly before he forces himself to relax. I want to tear my gaze away, to make him feel small, but instead, I’m the one who feels small.

“Do you want to leave?” Jessy asks. “If they-”

“Why must I leave?” I snap, but my eyes stay fixed on Josh. “Why must I be the one to suffer, even after being wronged? Why?”

Jessy’s face twists between confusion and pity. “What the hell happened with Sean?”

I open my mouth to answer, but the words die on my tongue when Josh makes a handjob gesture, looking right at me. His friends erupt into laughter, sneering and shoving their fingers in their mouths as they sneak glances at me. They don’t even try to hide that it’s me they’re mocking.

Get it together, Allie. You’re better than this. I repeat in my mind, but it doesn’t stop the tears blurring my vision, nor the flashbacks of every photo, every comment on my body. My hands shake as I reach for my bag, but I don’t even manage to grab it before I’m staggering out of the bar.