Fake Dating My Ex's Hockey Star Brother (Maya Scott) novel Chapter 212

Chapter 72

JUSTIN’S POV

+25 Points

“Cooper, chill. Let it go,” I try to step between him and Black. I get that he’s looking out for me but Black’s volatile, and I can deal with him without a brawl. “I can handle this.”

Cooper shoots me a glare and I swear, it’s like Katy is staring at me through him. “Handle it? By handing this dude fifteen hundred every damn week? I heard everything, J, and I’m not letting this guy walk out tonight.”

The anger in his voice is clear, and there’s no way I’m taking him on with Zach, Luke, and Martin backing him up.

“Okay…” Black shrugs, like he doesn’t even care. “Wanna know? Fine. Your boy owes me. Took some coke from me and won’t pay.”

My head jerks toward him, eyes widening. I can’t believe what I’m hearing. Me? Take coke and not pay? My fists ball at my sides, my teeth grinding as I fight to swallow the surge of anger rising in my chest.

“It wouldn’t be blackmail if he owes you,” Zach calls from the doorway, stepping closer. “And unless he stole a truckload of coke from you, fifteen hundred a week is a lot. You lying on him or what?” His gaze flicks between me and Black for an answer.

“And why would I do that?” Black snaps. “I’m just asking for my money, and your boy’s been an ass about it. Maybe I should get your coach involved and see how he likes that.”

“I’m not owing you shit,” I say, my teeth clenched. “You’ve already taken ten grand from me…at least have the balls to admit the truth about what really happened.”

Cooper glances at me. “You’re not owing him?”

I shake my head. “No.”

That’s the last word I get out before his fist connects with Black’s jaw. Black staggers back, groaning and clutching his face, and when his hand drops, his fingers are slick with blood.

“You just made it worse for him.” He warns, wiping his nose.

“You clearly don’t get the situation you just walked into,” Zach snarls, closing in as Black backs toward my door. Luke and Martin are waiting behind him and when he stumbles, nearly hitting them, Luke snags his collar, and pins him in place.

I should say something or step in but a part of me wants to see Black in pain. Zach twists his shirt, leaning in close. “You track J down for what? To shake him for cash? To whine about his girl?”

Before Black can respond, Luke hauls him inside, his cusses bouncing off the walls as they echo. I take a step forward to join them, but Cooper’s hand shoots up, slamming into my chest to stop me.

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*25 Points

“Where the hell are you going?” he demands, his eyes narrowing. “How long has this been going on?”

I rub the back of my neck. “A… couple months,” I finally admit.

He draws closer. “And you just… let him push you around all this time?”

My jaw tightens. “He has my photos. I’ve got a lot to lose, Cooper. You know that.”

“What kind of pictures?”

I hesitate, the words catching in my throat. Finally, I force them out. “I… I was trading coke for him. Needed cash, went to him, and he duped me. Long story short… he’s got me, and I couldn’t risk it.”

His scowl deepens. “You needed cash? You went to that son of a bitch for money? What about me? Dude

what the hell?”

I exhale slowly. “I was already owing you too much. Katy was sick, and a lot of things were just falling apart. It didn’t feel right to keep asking, especially with your car in my possession too.”

He scoffs, looking like I just pissed on his leg. “You know I never asked you to pay me back. You insisted, and I just went along with it. If I knew you were-”

“That’s the point,” I cut him off. “You never complain, Coop. I take and take, and you just give and give. I started feeling… lazy, like I always had you as a backup plan. And I don’t. I shouldn’t have the liberty to think like that. I’ve never been dependent on anyone, and suddenly it felt like I was. $500 one week, $2K the next… and still, no complaints from you. I couldn’t keep doing it.”

My confession forces silence between us and we just stare at each other for a few seconds. Then Cooper lifts his hand, and jabs a finger at my chest.

“You dickhead,” he mutters. “What do you think buddies are for? Do you complain when I crash at your place and eat your food? Of all people, you should know I don’t care about money. But I care about you.” He punches my shoulder. “You dude, you’re my number one in Cadston. I would’ve quit hockey a long time ago if it wasn’t for you and I’m dating Katy today because you asked her to tutor me. You’ve always had my back.” He hits me again. “So why the hell would you think you’re a burden? Dependent on me? J, why the hell would you get yourself into this mess with me standing right here every goddamn day? Why?”

I never thought I’d get teary arguing with the first guy I bumped fists with on day one of hockey training but here we are.

“I messed up,” I admit, my voice hoarse. “I messed up big time.”

Cooper doesn’t say anything. He just looks at me with pain in his eyes and that’s somehow worse than if he’d screamed. His jaw works like he’s chewing on words he hasn’t decided to release yet. When he finally exhales, it’s slow and controlled.

“Yes, you did.” His lips twitch like he’s holding back a storm of words. “And you put Allison in danger because you couldn’t fucking ask for help. I thought we were friends.”

“Coop, we are friends.”

5. Chapter 72

+25 Points

He doesn’t respond for a moment, and then, he exhales, pressing his grip down on my shoulder. “I’m so

pissed at you right now but we’ve got to stick together. We’ll figure out how to shut that dude up for good. And if anything goes wrong, we go down together. You can’t play savior when you’re the one who needs

saving. You got that?”

I nod. “Got it.”

“Let’s go talk to that bastard,” he says, already heading for the door. But he pauses suddenly, glancing back at me. “Better pray your sister doesn’t find out about this. If she does, forget what I said about going down

together…I’m bailing. I’m not getting on her bad side.”

I scoff, fighting a grin. “So you’d rather lose hockey than piss off my annoying sister? Or are you just scared

of her?”

“Both,” he admits. “I swear, she freaks me out when she’s mad.”

“Same with Allison,” I mutter. “I can’t believe she went to Black by herself. What was she thinking?”

“Women will do anything for a guy they love,” he says, shaking his head. “You just have to make sure you’re

worth it, or karma will wipe you off the ground. We should deal with Black tonight, so you’ve got

something to tell Alls.”

I bob my head. “Yeah.”

He leads the way inside and shuts the door behind us. Looking at the mess and how Black has been

dismantled by the guys, I’m almost impressed at the kind of friendship I’ve built in three years in Cadston

but it’s not exactly bragging rights when there’s a dude on my chair, bleeding and whining. Usually, I’m the

one in the front lines on days like this, but today? I’m just observing.

“There are more civilized ways to handle this after a good beating,” Cooper says, stopping in front of

Black, who’s clutching his face. “You know, we beat up my brother a couple weeks ago, so we’ve got

experience. Anyway, J filled me in, and as I see it, he owes you nothing and you owe him ten grand.”

“That’s right,” Martin adds.

“I know you know selling drugs can get him expelled,” Cooper continues. “But seriously…are you really gonna go that far?” He leans toward Black. “Here’s the deal black or should I say red because you’re looking more red right now.”

Zach and Luke snicker behind him.

“I’ll give you twice what you took from J so far,” he adds, “and in return, you sign your full name, put it on video admitting you framed him, and agree that if you try anything stupid, all five of us get full rights to erase you.”

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