Fake Dating My Ex's Hockey Star Brother (Maya Scott) novel Chapter 256

Chapter 0114

ALLISON’S POV

“Mum!” I throw my arms around her as soon as I open the door, holding her tight. She barely returns it

before nudging me back with her shoulder. I step away, pouting. “You won’t even hug me properly.”

Katy slips in from behind me, effortlessly taking the bags from her. “Mrs. Katherine, I missed you.”

“Katy, darling, I missed you too. How have you been?” Mum says, her tone soft.

“Just trying my best,” Katy replies lightly. “Come in.”

She flashes me a quick wink before dashing inside. Unbelievable. Is she actually trying to steal my mum?

The thought barely settles before something smacks my shoulder and I flinch. Mum is glaring at me, already shaking her head.

“You see how she noticed the bags?” she asks, brushing past me. “You’ve not changed.”

What that means, I have no idea. I just follow her inside and thankfully, Justin and Braydon are now fully clothed, because I’m pretty sure she would’ve had a heart attack if she walked in and saw them shirtless like they were… Oh yeah. One minute ago.

“Good day, Mrs. Katherine,” they greet in unison, standing stiffly like middle school boys in front of a

teacher.

Her eyes sweep over them slowly as if she’s deciding whether they meet her standards. Then something in her expression softens and she closes the distance between them, reaching up to pat their cheeks.

“How are you boys doing?”

“Very well, ma.” Justin answers first.

“Fine, thank you Mrs. Katherine.” Braydon follows, and I almost laugh at how well-behaved they both sound. These are grown men. Hockey players. College seniors about to graduate.

Mum’s attention lingers on Justin and she tilts her head slightly. “And your therapy? How is it going?”

“Good progress.” Justin says, nodding. “Ahead of schedule actually.”

“Good, good.” She pats his cheek once more. “And you’re eating well? Getting enough protein, enough rest?”

“Yes ma. I actually cook most of the meals here so I make sure everything is balanced.”

Mum blinks. Then she turns to look at him more fully. “You cook?”

“Yes ma.”

The pause that follows is barely two seconds but I already feel it in my chest. I already know what’s coming. I watch her turn slowly until her gaze lands on me.

“Allison.”

“Mum-”

“Have you learned even one recipe?”

The silence in the room is deafening and Katy has suddenly found something very interesting to look at on the ceiling and Braydon presses his lips together. Justin, the traitor, just stands there looking perfectly innocent.

“I’ve been busy.” I say and she stares at me. “With auditions. And-”

She turns back to Justin. “Please teach her something small. Anything. Eggs. Teach her how to boil eggs.”

“Mum, I know how to boil eggs!”

She pats Justin’s shoulder with the most serious expression. “She doesn’t know how.”

“Mum!”

“Justin, she doesn’t know how to boil eggs. I’m telling you.”

“I cooked for him!” The words burst out of me before I can stop them and everyone looks at me. I lift my

chin. “Recently, a full meal and it was nice. Tell her, Justin.”

All eyes slide to Justin and he holds my gaze for a second.

“It was actually really good.” He says. “I was impressed.”

I throw my hands up. “Thank you.”

Mum looks at him for a long moment, searching his face for any trace of pity-lying. She finds none, apparently, because she exhales and the interrogation ends.

“Fine.” She sighs, then turns toward the bags Katy set down near the couch. “Katy, check that big bag for me. Unpack everything inside.”

Katy is already moving. “What did you bring?”

“Did anybody eat? I want to eat with you all before I start the drive back.” She settles into the armchair.

He makes a small sound of agreement.

Mum sets her plate on the table and folds her hands in her lap. She looks between Katy and Braydon for a moment, then shakes her head.

“Is this really the time to be arguing about that?” She asks. “You’re not even there yet. You haven’t

graduated, you haven’t moved, and you don’t even know exactly how it’s going to look. And you’re already trying to grieve something that hasn’t happened.”

‘Katy doesn’t say anything.

“How long have you two been together?” Mum asks.

“About five months.” Katy responds.

“And in those five months, has he given you any reason not to trust him?”

“No.” She answers.

“Has she?” She directs this at Braydon.

“No.” He says immediately.

“Then what exactly are you afraid of?” She looks at Katy. “That he’ll meet someone else?”

Katy’s shoulders drop slightly. “It’s not even that. I just think that distance changes things. I’ve seen it happen.”

“It can.” Mum agrees, nodding. “It absolutely can but it doesn’t have to. And the way you fight it isn’t by arguing about it before it’s even started. You fight it by deciding together that you’re going to.” She pauses. “Have you two actually talked about it? Not argued…talked.”

Silence falls again and she clicks her tongue. “That’s what I thought.”

Braydon looks at Katy and something passes between them, their expressions both turning jelly at the same time.

“I just don’t want to lose you.” Katy admits, and her voice is smaller now. “That’s all it is. I tend to fixate on things and try to calculate my odds and it’s just scary because I really want us to work.”

“I know.” Braydon replies, reaching out to push hair behind her ears. “Me neither.”

Mum watches them, then reaches over and picks up Katy’s hand and places it in Braydon’s. He closes his fingers around hers without hesitation.

“Now was that so hard?” Mum asks.

Justin bursts out laughing first. Then Braydon, then me, and even Katy is smiling now, shaking her head with her hand still in his.