Fake Dating My Ex's Hockey Star Brother (Maya Scott) novel Chapter 236

Chapter 96

ALLISON’S POV

I’m not really the religious type. I grew up in a house where my mom would rather be out golfing or doing literally anything else than go to church. My dad isn’t any different and his whole week just revolves around work, and on weekends, he would just count down to Monday like it’s something to look forward to. I don’t remember being taught how to pray or any of those things most parents pass down to their kids.

Still, I wouldn’t call myself an atheist. I believe in something. Maybe God, maybe just… something bigger than us. Some kind of force that put us here and watches everything: the good, the bad, and even the messed-up parts of life.

And I guess that’s why I’m here right now, on my knees and in a church.

‘Please, Jesus… you’ve got to heal Justin.” I whisper, my hands clasped tight like it has been for fifteen

minutes now.

There’s something about this place that makes me feel like if I stay a little longer, pray a little harder, I night actually get through to someone.

And there’s this voice in my head telling me that if I just lay it all out, everything I’m scared of, everything I don’t know how to fix, then maybe… maybe He’ll take Justin’s pain away.

Maybe I won’t have to hear words like electrolyte imbalance or seizures ever again.

squeeze my hands tighter. “You’ve got…”

My phone vibrates in my pocket, cutting the words off midair. I pull it out and it’s Katy. I’d asked her to call or text the moment Justin woke up. A shaky exhale slips past my lips, and I’m on my feet, heading toward

the backdoor with a small, relieved smile.

I didn’t get to pray as long as I wanted, but somehow, I’m still grateful. Before I step out into the crisp air, I

pause and bow my head.

kkk

“Allison.” Justin croaks, his fingers twitching weakly in my hand. I lean in, bringing my ear closer to his lips.

“Can we go for a walk?”

The words are so unexpected I straighten immediately. “What?”

“A walk,” he repeats, his eyes brightening.

I just stare at him, blinking like I misheard. It’s past ten pm, he had the worst seizure I’ve ever seen just hours ago, and now he wants to walk?

And then there’s the more obvious problem, the one he’s apparently ignoring. How exactly does he plan to walk with a knee that hasn’t even healed yet?

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© Chapter 96

+25 Points

“Ten minutes,” I say, settling on his bed. “A nurse is checking with the attending.”

His whole face relaxes.

“Don’t get too excited yet,” I add, giving him a look. “It’s just the hallway and it’s short.”

“I’ll take it.” His head falls back against the pillow, staring at the ceiling. “Allison, I have been looking at that same water stain for three days.”

I follow his gaze. There is, in fact, a faint yellowish patch spreading from the corner of the ceiling tile.

“I didn’t even notice that.”

“That’s because you’re not trapped under it.”

I sigh, shaking my head.

Ten minutes pass and Justin dozes lightly, his hand still loosely wrapped around mine.

Then Diane eases the door open with her shoulder, a wheelchair folded out and I jump to my feet almost

immediately.

“Alright, Mr. Evans,” she says, snapping on a pair of gloves. “Let’s get you mobile.”

Justin brightens immediately as Diane crosses to his bedside and I hover near the foot of the bed, unsure

whether to help or stay out of the way.

“Easy,” she checks the line running from his IV port, tracing it up to the drip bag on the pole. “We’ll bring the

pole with us. You’re not disconnected from this.”

“Okay,” Justin mutters.

She repositions the IV pole so it’s on his left, closer to the chair, then turns to me. “Can you hold this

steady while I help him transfer?”

“Of course.” I move to the pole and grip it with both hands.

“Feet first,” Diane says, directing Justin to swing his legs over the side. He does, slower than he’d probably like, his jaw tightening for just a second as his knee adjusts to the shift in position.

She locks the wheelchair wheels with a click of her foot, then positions herself to his right, one hand at his back. “On three. Don’t rush it. One, two-”

Justin pushes off the mattress and lands in the chair with a short, controlled breath.

“Good.” Diane adjusts the footrests, lifts his left leg onto the support gently, and leaves the right one at a slightly more comfortable angle. Then she unhooks the IV bag and rehooks it on the pole’s top clip, repositioning everything so it rolls cleanly beside the chair.

She steps back, looks him over once like she’s running a checklist, then nods.

“Twenty minutes,” she says, glancing at me. “Don’t let him talk you into more. You need anything, come find me.”

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6. Chapter 96

“Thank you.” I flash her a smile. “I promise to bring him back just in time.”

+25 Points

She steps aside, and I wheel Justin through the doorway, nudging the IV pole ahead with my elbow until

we clear the frame.

He doesn’t say anything at first, but looks around.

“Better?” I ask.

“So much better.” He exhales.

We drift toward the end of the hall where a wide window looks out over the hospital’s side entrance and I

bring the chair to a stop in front of it.

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