Fake Dating My Ex's Hockey Star Brother (Maya Scott) novel Chapter 38

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BRAYDON’S POV

I’m actually losing my mind.

No really, there’s no other explanation because why can’t I stop thinking about last night with Katy?

And no, it’s not about the stupid pecks on the chin or anything like that. It’s her face…those big, bright eyes when she got all excited.

Fuck, I sound insane.

It’s not like I haven’t seen a girl excited before but something about Katy just sticks in my head like a bad song. Maybe it’s because she’s Justin’s sister. Yeah, that has to be it. I probably just see her as this tiny, fragile bird I need to protect. It’s definitely a brotherly thing….I think.

Damn it, Braydon, pull yourself together.

I’m leaning against the wall, running that same thought loop in my head for the twentieth time, when a voice yanks me back to reality. “What are you doing here?”

I lift my head and my target has finally stepped out of his room, looking worse than I imagined. There’s a bandage across his head, another on his arm, and his eyes are bloodshot like he hasn’t slept.

I straighten, slipping my hands into my hoodie pocket. “We need to talk about Katy.”

Bryan freezes mid–step, then lets out a low, bitter scoff. “Hell nah. I don’t want to talk about her.”

He tries to walk off, but I step into his path, giving him a look that says I’m not leaving until we talk about Katy. He gives me a hard glare but it’s not enough to faze me and if he thinks he can try anything, I’m not above giving him another reason to wrap a bandage around that ugly forehead.

He exhales. “Can’t you tell I’m trying to mind my business? I’ve got classes.”

“Cool,” I say. “Then this’ll be quick.” I fold my arms. “Delete the photos you have of Katy and promise you’ll never try to get them back or show them to anyone.”

When I finish, his lips part slightly and he stares at me, his eyes searching my face.

“Are you fucking with me?” he finally asks, disbelief dripping from his tone.

“No.” I shake my head. “What part of me looks like I’m joking?”

He lets out a humorless chuckle. “So you came all the way here to say this? Aren’t you embarrassed?”

I tilt my head, keeping my voice calm even though I can feel my pulse picking up. “Only one of us looks like shit right now because he was too much of a p***y to let his ex go. I think that person should be the one embarrassed.”

A muscle jumps in his jaw and his smirk fades.

He takes a slow step closer, eyes hardening. “It’s bad enough you’re fucking my ex, now you’re playing hero? Pathetic.”

I meet his glare head–on. “You sure you want to talk about pathetic, Bryan? You’re the one still keeping photos like a creep.”

“Careful,” he says, voice low. “You’re starting to sound jealous.”

I smirk. “Of what?”

“That I’d fuck her while she’s still with you. You know, I think she has a thing for red flags.”

Something in me snaps. I slam my shoulder into his and he staggers, his hand flying to the spot. He bites a curse as he glares up at me and I drop down a fraction to match his height, our faces close enough to feel his breath. “You hear me, Bro? I don’t mess around. You touch Katy and I’ll make sure you never play baseball again.”