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.

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