Fake Dating My Ex's Hockey Star Brother (Maya Scott) novel Chapter 266

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Epilogue 1

JUSTIN’S POV

THE KINGS GROUP CHAT

LUKE: Do you think there’s a chance one of us is valedictorian?

+25 Points

I press a hand to my temple, fighting a laugh as the chancellor delivers one of those speeches meant to sound emotional about growth, our future, and stepping into life after graduation.

COOPER: Pigs will fly first. We should be lucky we’re even graduating.

ME: Especially me. I’m the happiest here.

And that’s exactly how I feel, sitting in this hall with over a thousand people on graduation day.

Four years ago, I got admitted to Cadston, and I still remember it like it was yesterday.

I remember Katy crying her eyes out on move–in day and the promise I made to call her more often than she probably expected. I remember meeting Cooper and the rest of the team one by one. I remember the first meal Cooper bought me and how shocked I was to realize just

how rich he was.

There are a lot of memories from Cadston. A few bad ones, but mostly good.

I look up from my phone, my gaze scanning the room until it lands on Allison.

She’s already looking at me and Katy is sitting beside her. They are both smiling–big, bright, proud smiles that matter most to me.

My heart swells with joy. I didn’t give up halfway. I actually made it to this point and I have people celebrating that with me.

My phone buzzes and I drag my focus back to it.

COOPER: J’s blushing for no damn reason. Can see it from all the way here.

I shake my head as I type a response.

ME: Eyes on your own life, Cooper.

COOPER: 00

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+25 Points

LUKE: He’s DEFINITELY blushing.

I silence my phone, still smiling, and look back up at the podium. Two seconds later it buzzes again but it’s not from the group.

ALLISON: Stop texting and pay attention

I glance across the hall and find her watching me, her eyebrows raised, and lips pressed together to hold back a smile. I mouth you first and she looks away quickly, biting her lip.

The rest of the ceremony moves the way these things do: more speeches from people I’ve never seen in my life, thanks to being an athlete, then names are called in long alphabetical order, the shuffling of robes, the collective cheer that goes up every time someone walks across that stage.

When my name is called, I hear Allison and Katy before I hear anyone else, their voices cutting clean through everything. I shake the chancellor’s hand, take my blank diploma cover with the biggest smile because I actually made it. Four years of everything this place threw at me, and I’m still standing.

*****

“Okay, stand together!” Allison snaps at me and Katy, lifting the camera up, and stepping back to frame the shot. “Justin, move closer to Katy. Closer.”

“I’m literally touching her,” I say.

“Katy, lower the flowers, they’re blocking your face.” Allison tilts the camera slightly, squinting at the screen. “Perfect. Okay one, two-”

–

“Wait, is my cap straight?” I ask.

She groans. “Justin.”

“Okay, okay!”

Allison takes three shots in quick succession, then immediately pulls the camera back to review them, nodding slowly to herself like a professional.

The camera actually belongs to Mrs. Katherine, and even though I’m surprised she made it today, I’m even more surprised by the massive camera she brought with her.

I glance over to where she is with Cooper, already pulled into his photo session like she was

with ours.

“The photos are good,” Allison announces.

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“Alright, now give the camera to Katy,” I say, gently nudging Katy out of the way.

Allison looks up. “What?”

+25 Points

“You and me.” I reach over and take the camera from her hand, passing it straight to Katy.”

Come here.”

Katy looks at the camera in her hand, then at me, then back at the camera. “Braydon is literally waiting for me right now, Justin.”

“He can wait one more minute.” I put my arm around Allison and pull her into my side. “Take the picture, Katy.”

“You are so-‘

“Katy!”

She gives me the flattest look I’ve seen from her in a week, which is saying something. Then she sighs dramatically, lifts the camera, and points it at us.

“Smile before I change my mind,” she mutters.

I smile, glancing at Allison and she’s doing the same.

Katy takes her sweet time framing the shot, making a whole production of it, but when she finally hands the camera back the photos are genuinely good. Allison swipes through them slowly, her smile growing with each one.

“I’m framing these,” she announces.

“Me too,” I say. “Hopefully the first one goes straight into my locker at the Bruins locker room.

“1

She looks up at me for a second, her eyes going soft, and she leans in to kiss me.

“Hey,” she says against my lips. “Enjoy today. I know you’ll get that call soon so don’t spend it worrying about that. Whatever happens from here, only good things are coming. I know it.”

Except life sometimes doesn’t work that way. But I nod anyway, choosing to believe her and choosing to have faith that everything will fall into place, that I’ll get the call, that I’ll sign with the Bruins.

“Okay.” I poke her nose gently, not to ruin her makeup. “I’ll do as you say.”

“Good.” She raises an eyebrow. “Because if you don’t, I won’t tell you about the surprise I planned.”

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