Fake Dating My Ex's Hockey Star Brother (Maya Scott) novel Chapter 193

ALLISON’S POV

“Alls, are you okay?” Katy whispers for the third time in, like, a single minute. She keeps sneaking looks at me like I’m about to fall apart in my seat. “You came back really late last night and dipped so early this morning. What’s going on?”

I swallow and shrug, pasting on what I hope passes for a normal smile. “I was with Jessy. We lost track of time. You know how it is.”

She clearly doesn’t buy it, but before she can press, Mr. Hopper clears his throat and launches into another painfully long explanation about something I should definitely be paying attention to. The moment his voice fills the room, Katy sighs and turns back to her notebook.

I almost do the same. Instead, I stare at my notes without actually seeing them, grateful for the temporary escape.

I left our dorm early on purpose so I wouldn’t have to sit next to her and deal with the questions, but somehow, she still managed to slide right into the seat beside me.

We don’t know every single thing about each other, but we’re close enough to read the signs. I can always tell when something’s wrong with her, and she can definitely tell when something’s wrong with me. No matter how hard I try to act normal, she sees through it. And right now, her brother is the reason I’m sitting in class like a literal zombie.

A big part of me knows I crossed the line last night. I said things I can’t take back, things that were meant to hurt. And honestly? If someone said that to me, I’d lose it too.

But there’s another part of me that keeps whispering that he deserved it. That it hurt just as much for him to act like whatever we have doesn’t matter like I don’t matter. Except… that part of me can’t even define what we are.

What exactly is my relationship with Justin, anyway?

If I go by his logic, he’s right not to trust me. We’re barely even friends. If I’m being honest, the most accurate label for us is probably casual hookup buddies. That’s it.

He said he liked me, and I wasn’t ready for that. I shut it down. So maybe I don’t get to be mad that he keeps parts of himself locked up. Maybe I don’t get to be mad that he thinks I make everything about me. I probably shouldn’t be mad at all.

But I am because it hurts.

I really thought we were on the same page. That we had some unspoken understanding and that he was my person, and I was his, even if we didn’t put a label on it. And realizing that maybe we never were… yeah, that part sucks the most.

“We’re talking after class,” Katy murmurs, leaning into me and nudging my arm. “You look like an alien.”

Alien is fair. I feel like I’m physically here, but mentally on another planet.

The rest of the lecture blurs by. Mr. Hopper practically sprints through the last slides, clearly ready to escape, and honestly? I respect it.

He’s not one of those professors who hang around, begging for questions, and good for him. Lately, everyone seems desperate to avoid conversation. Screw everyone.

Katy suddenly slaps my back, hard enough to make me jolt. I whip around, blinking at her.

“What was that for?” I ask, as she narrows her eyes at me.

“You lied to me.”

My heart slams against my ribs. Did Justin tell her something?

“You can’t say nothing’s wrong when you look this miserable.” She adds.

Trust me to suddenly find my acting and lying skills when I actually need them. Yeah, it’s messed up, but this is not the time for a family reunion.

“Okay, fine. I’m a little hungover and I feel like crap.

She pauses, her eyes scanning my face, and I force myself to breathe normally, silently begging her to buy it.

Then she smacks me again.

“How could you drink and then drive? At night?” She slaps my hand this time. “What if something happened to you? Are you insane?”

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