Fake Dating My Ex's Hockey Star Brother (Maya Scott) novel Chapter 33

KATY’S POV

“You really think I care what you have to say?”

Bryan’s jaw tightens, his eyes dark like they always get when he’s angry. “I really think you should calm down before you escalate things more than you’d like.”

I let out a short laugh, the kind that’s more disbelief than humor. “Are you threatening me now, or just trying to sound important?”

He shoves his hands in his pockets. “Let’s get back together.”

Like ice, the air stills.

For a moment, I just blink at him, waiting for the punchline that never comes. Wait. He’s serious.

He’s actually serious.

My brows lift slowly, like my brain’s trying to process the level of delusion standing in front of me.

Then, against my will, a tiny laugh slips out and it’s one of those awkward, breathy ones.

And then it worsens. The disbelief, the irony, and the pure audacity of it all hits me at once. Before I know it, I’m laughing loudly, and uncontrollably, my head tilted back, hand clutching my stomach.

“You-“I manage between gasps, pointing at him. “You came all the way here to say that? What happened to everything you said when I dumped your ass?”

His jaw flexes. “Don’t you think giving us a second chance is better than being a slut?”

I tilt my head, lips twitching as the laughter dies abruptly from my lips. “What did you just say?”

He scoffs, his tone dripping with disgust. “You really don’t get it, do you? Everyone’s talking about you, Braydon’s new toy. You’re just another girl he’ll get bored of once he’s done having fun.” He steps closer, eyes raking over me. “Tell me, Katy, is that what you wanted? Attention? To play the slut for a guy?”

The words sting, but I hold his stare. “What I do is none of your business.” My voice comes out hoarse. “Maybe that’s what pisses you off… that I moved on and you didn’t.”

He drags a hand through his hair, frustration flashing across his face. “Katy, what do you want?”

I let out a dry laugh. “What do I want? Nothing from you.”

I turn to leave, but his hand shoots out, gripping my arm hard enough to hurt. He starts dragging me back toward him, ignoring my struggle.

“Bryan, let go!” I jerk, twisting against his hold. When he doesn’t, my voice rises. “Have you lost your mind? Let me go before I file a report against you!”

He freezes then, his eyes darting around as people start watching. I yank my arm free and take a step back, breathing hard.

“Touch me again,” I say quietly, “and I swear you’ll regret it.”

“And then what?” he fires back, veins pulsing at his temple. “We aren’t done, Katy. I decide when this is over.”

I inhale slowly. “We were done the moment you cheated. Stalk me again and I’ll file a report.”

I start to turn away, my shoulders already angling toward the path that will put space between us.

“If you leave, I’ll share those photos.”

The words hits me and everything inside me goes quiet. For a long second I’m only aware of my own breathing and the distant sound of students talking steps away. Photos. His voice loops: “I’ll share those photos.”

“Why the hell do you have a bloody nose and my sister looks like that?” Justin asks. “Did she hit you? And why?”

I swallow hard, blinking fast to keep my tears down. I don’t know why it happens every time, why my emotions feel like they belong to Justin the moment he steps in. It’s like he holds the key to my dam, and the moment he shows up, everything threatens to spill out.

“Why don’t you get out of my way?” Bryan snaps. “I have a class.”

“No one’s leaving,” Justin growls, stepping closer, his broad shoulders blocking his path. “Not until I get my answers.”

My brain scrambles for what to say, how to stop this before it explodes. Because I know Justin. Once he pieces it together, Bryan won’t leave here without broken bones and we’re in the middle of campus. Justin won’t care about consequences. He never does when he’s angry, especially when it’s about me. I can tell Braydon what Bryan said and he’ll help me fix this quietly. But Justin? No.

He’ll make sure Bryan never walks straight again.

“It’s nothing,” I blurt out, stepping closer. “Nothing happened between us.”

Justin lets out a cold, humorless chuckle and when I meet his eyes, they don’t look like his anymore. “I knew you were going to say that,” he mutters, his voice barely controlled.

Before I can move, his hand shoots out, grabbing Bryan by the collar. Bryan stumbles, trying to pull free, but Justin’s grip is strong. “I heard something about photos,” Justin growls. “Were you blackmailing my sister?”

My hands fall uselessly to my sides and my throat closes up. He heard. He knows.

“Let go of ” Bryan starts, but the words cut off when Justin’s fist slams into his face.

Bryan staggers, but another punch follows, then another, each one harder than the last.

“Justin! Stop–please!” I scream, shoving at him, and pulling at his arm, but he doesn’t stop. Bryan hits the ground, trying to shield his face, but Justin’s boot connects with his ribs.