Fake Dating My Ex's Hockey Star Brother (Maya Scott) novel Chapter 228

Chapter 88

ALLISON’S POV

It’s freezing cold this morning, and everyone has a cardigan, a jacket, or something. Everyone but me. I’m

still in yesterday’s clothes, looking like I raided a ski resort’s lost and found at midnight. I know I should go

change. Our cabin is less than an hour away. I know this.

But I can’t make myself move.

Because what if I step away and Justin wakes up? What if he opens his eyes and looks around and I’m not

there? He’d want to see me. I think he’d want to see me and right now, that’s the only thing keeping me in

this chair.

I glance down at my phone and it’s only seven percent. I could ask Katy for her charger but we haven’t spoken since last night, not even after the surgeon came out and said everything went well.

A sigh pushes out of me before I can stop it. I tip my head back against the wall, pull my knees to my chest, and wrap my arms around them.

I’ve just closed my eyes when I feel someone settle into the seat beside me.

My eyes flutter open and land on Braydon. He looks rough, like he hasn’t slept either but he has a hoodie

on at least.

“Do you need a ride back to the cabin?” He asks.

“No need.” I close my eyes again.

Silence settles for some seconds before he exhales and I feel him shift closer. I open my eyes again.

“I really wish I’d done something.” He’s staring at the floor when he says it, his jaw tight. “I saw him. I knew something was wrong and I just-” he stops, then shakes his head. “You are right. I am a bad friend.”

I don’t say anything.

“But right now?” He finally looks at me. “We can’t be there for J if we’re busy blaming each other. That’s not

fair to him.”

I lick my lips, staring at the trash can a few feet away before I drag my gaze back to him. My lips part but

nothing comes out at first and I sigh.

Somewhere between last night and this morning, Katy’s words knocked something loose in me and that’s probably exactly why I haven’t been able to look at her.

“I shouldn’t have blamed you,” I finally say to Braydon, lifting my head. “I was scared. And I think I was trying to convince myself there was some way to rewind some decisions that would’ve changed where we ended up.” I tighten my grip around my knees. “It was easier than sitting with the idea that maybe it was my fault.”

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“Well, yes. And something else.”

I pause, hand halfway into the bag. “Okay. Whatever it is, I promise I’m not doing anything…”

“Your dad wants you home for Christmas.”

+25 Points

I go completely still, and in the silence I can hear my own heartbeat. Slowly, I take the phone from my shoulder and hold it properly.

“Did you tell him that I -”

“I told him everything.” Her voice drops slightly. “And before you say anything, he’s sitting right next to me. You’re on speaker.”

My grip tightens around the phone.

It hasn’t even been a week and they want to pull me back already. There’s no way I’m leaving Justin right now and when we eventually do leave Colorado, we’re going straight to New York. Christmas away from

him isn’t even something I’m willing to consider.

“Mum.” I stop moving. “Justin just had surgery.”

There’s silence on her end.

“I know how that sounds coming from me, but I’ll send proof if you need it. He got hurt badly. Broken

bones, bleeding in his head, hematoma or something.” I press my fingers to my temple. “I don’t want to get

into all of it right now but I can’t come home for Christmas. I know I promised a week and then I’d be back,

but I can’t leave him like this. He needs people around him and I need to see for myself that he’s okay.” I

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