Fake Dating My Ex's Hockey Star Brother (Maya Scott) novel Chapter 6

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KATY’S POV

I slip into the lecture hall and sink into my usual seat, letting my bag drop beside me. My gaze flicks around the room before I can stop myself, and I scan the faces of everyone present.

Of course, I already know Braydon’s schedule, so I know he shouldn’t be here. Still, I only exhale once I’m certain.

It’s ironic, really. He’s supposed to be my fake boyfriend, and yet here I am, relieved he isn’t anywhere near me. And today is supposed to be our first day for everything we planned but my stomach is fluttering with nerves.

The truth is that after last night, I need space, breathing room, and time to convince myself I’m not making a mistake by trusting him.

I usually pride myself on making good choices. Safe ones. But with him, all my carefully built walls crumble, and wisdom evaporates. That’s how I end up doing things like kissing him like I want it and like I’m not supposed to remember it’s fake. Worse, I didn’t just kiss him, I melted and moaned into his mouth as if I couldn’t help myself.

The memory sends a shiver racing down my spine, and I shift in my seat, wishing I could shake the feeling away.

“Miss me?” a familiar voice teases in my ear.

I jump, startled, before turning. Allie slides into the chair beside me, her smile bright and easy.

Right on cue, our professor walks to the podium, but I barely notice him because I’m too busy staring at my best friend.

“I thought you weren’t coming back until tomorrow,” I whisper, grinning as relief warms my chest. God, it feels good to see her.

Allie isn’t just my roommate, she’s my anchor, and my sister in every way that matters. She’s been gone for days, celebrating her anniversary with her boyfriend, and I hadn’t realized how much I missed her until now.

“So basically, you didn’t miss me,” she says, pulling out her notebook, her eyes glinting with mischief.

“I missed you so much my entire life collapsed without you,” I whisper dramatically.

She smothers a laugh. “Or maybe you were just having too much fun without me.”

If only she knew. Fun is the last word I’d use for all the mess that happened. And I know she’s going to freak out when I tell her because I have to tell her. I just couldn’t bring myself to do it while she was away because I didn’t want to ruin her week.

But now that she’s back? There’s no hiding and there’s too much to unpack.

“I’ll tell you everything after class,” I whisper, flipping open my notebook.

Her pen pauses midair, and she leans closer, her brows raised. “Now I’m anxious.”

“After class,” I whisper back, forcing my attention to the podium. The professor’s voice drones on, but the words might as well be static. My heart is already racing, my palms damp against the notebook.

Just the thought of telling Allie what happened makes me feel nauseous. She has the kind of relationship people dream about with a steady, loving boyfriend. Meanwhile, mine crashed and burned in the ugliest way possible. The contrast feels like holding up my mess beside her perfection, and part of me wants to swallow it down and never say a word.

But I know I can’t. She’s my best friend. And if there’s anyone I can break in front of, it’s her.

When the lecture finally ends, Allie wastes no time. She grabs my wrist and practically drags me outside, weaving through the crowd until we find a quiet corner. Her eyes are already wide, her whole body buzzing like she might explode if I make her wait a second longer.

“Okay,” she says, hands on her hips. “Tell. Me. Everything.”

I let out a shaky laugh, but it dies in my throat.

“You think it’s some funny, messy story,” I murmur, staring down at my shoes. “But it’s not.”

Her teasing smile slips slightly. “Then start wherever you can.”

So I do.

I tell Allie everything, starting with catching Bryan cheating and his mockery afterward, which pushed me into a fake relationship with Braydon. The words come out shakier than I expect, and by the time I finish, I feel wrung out.

Allie just stares at me, her eyes so wide it almost makes me laugh if it didn’t hurt so much. For a long moment, she doesn’t say a word. Then she exhales slowly and pulls me straight into her arms.

I sink into her hug, holding on tightly because God, I needed this. I haven’t even told Justin yet, so she’s only the second person to know, and somehow that makes me feel relieved.