Fake Dating My Ex's Hockey Star Brother (Maya Scott) novel Chapter 75

KATY’S POV

It takes me more than an hour to get ready for my classes today, not because I’m trying to look cute or anything but my brain is just moving at the speed of a snail.

I kept sitting down, staring at nothing, then remembering I actually have places to be. The only thing that finally got me out was the reminder that midterm grades come out today… and that I still need to make progress on my Blackrock research.

So here I am, forcing myself to be a functioning student.

I’m practically dragging my feet across campus as I head toward BrewLab Café, the only place on campus that serves coffee strong enough to wake the dead. My body needs caffeine the way toddlers need iPads.

The moment I step inside, I sigh. It’s packed.

Like, shouldn’t everyone be in class? Why are there this many people here at 10 a.m.? What are they doing, holding a secret meeting?

Still, nothing is stopping me from getting caffeine, so I slip into the tiny line and start mentally debating my options: a double-shot Americano or a black eye, both guaranteed to smack my soul awake.

“Shit! Our midterm grades just came in!” someone gasps from the back of the café.

The entire place shifts. Chairs scrape, people freeze and a few heads pop up like prairie dogs. I turn toward the voice, and just as I expected, everyone around her is already scrambling for their phones, fingers shaking, and faces tightening with that very specific academic dread.

I dig my phone out of my purse and yep, a notification is sitting right there. I stare at it for a second, not opening it, and not even tempted.

And I know this sounds obnoxious, but when you’re a straight-A student, you earn the right to breathe a little. People always tell you not to brag, and to stay humble. Meanwhile, rich people brag about everything from their tap water to their dogs’ diets. So, honestly… let me have this one thing.

Besides, my grades aren’t the ones giving me anxiety right now.

It’s Braydon’s.

His midterms feel like a life-or-death situation, at least for him. And if I’m being honest… a little for me too.

I’m just sliding my phone back into my bag when it starts buzzing with a call. I check and see it’s Braydon calling and my pulse jumps immediately.

He’s definitely calling about his grade…I know that much. But is it good news… or the kind. that sends both of us into a meltdown?

I take a deep breath and swipe to answer, pressing it to my ear. My hand is slightly shaking- don’t ask me why, I’m not usually like this.

“Don’t tell me you’re wheezing like an old man because of me,” he says the second I pick up and instantly, my whole body knows. It’s good news.

“Please tell me we’re gonna celebrate,” I whisper, inching closer to the counter.

“You can get balloons on your way, Princess,” he laughs. “It’s a fucking yes!!!”

“Braydon!” I can’t help it and I exclaim, loud enough that a few heads glance my way. “I’m so happy. Yes!”

His voice turns smug. “Get over here so I can smother you with love.”

I can’t stop the giggle escaping me and my cheeks are on fire. “Fine, if you insist.”

“I’ll be waiting,” he replies. “Then I’ll give you the full breakdown. Pretty sure you might fall in love with me after hearing how genius I’ve become.”

“You wish,” I mutter, rolling my eyes even though my stomach feels like it’s doing somersaults. I’m standing in a café, blushing like a fool because of a boy. Somebody helpit.

He’s still rambling when I hang up and chuckle. I slip my phone into my purse, and glance around, half-smiling.

I’m canceling all my plans today. Everything else can wait. Today is for celebrating Braydon’s grades.

I get to the counter and order a double-shot Americano. Just as I turn to leave, someone bumps into me.

“Fuck, sorry.” The girl’s eyes widen as she quickly steps back, pushing a dyed pink strand of hair behind her ear. “I really need to stop being clumsy.”

“It’s fine,” I say, forcing an awkward chuckle. “I mean, nothing got spilled on either of us.”

She tilts her head, smirking casually. “Yeah.”

“Got a problem with that?” Her friend chimes in, giggling quietly behind her.

“Uh… I… actually… no,” I manage to croak, my throat burning and my face heating up. I feel stupid but God, I don’t want to believe her. I can’t. “Can I… can I see a text? You’ve… you’ve texted him, right?”

Her friend crosses her arms, leaning back slightly. “Girl, if you don’t think this is weird, then I’m going to the needful and tell you it is.”

“I just…”

“Don’t worry,” the pink-haired girl interrupts. “I’ll show her what she wants.”

She pulls out her phone, scrolls through it and after some seconds, shoves it toward my face. “I have a screenshot of our chat. I usually delete my messages for personal reasons, but I kept this one… because it’s…..what’s the word? Hot.”

Goosebumps prick every inch of my skin as my gaze settles on their text messages and for a terrifying moment, I feel like I might actually throw up. It’s his profile pic, the same one he’s using. It’s him. The café noise, the conversations,…they all fade to nothing.

This chat… it’s from three days ago. Three days ago, when Braydon and I were still at the conference. The timestamp is 2 p.m., right in the middle of the hours when I know he was actively on his phone. But it’s not just the timing that shakes me.

It’s the details.

The way he writes, the things he says…it’s everything I despise in a guy. It’s showing me exactly that I’ve been a fool for falling for him.

“Can I… get this screenshot?” My voice cracks.

They stare at me for a long beat, like I’ve lost my mind. Then, reluctantly, the girl airdrops it to

I thank them, my hands shaking, and stumble out of the café, my legs like jelly beneath me. The coffee I had been holding is long forgotten, spilling warmth over my trembling palms.

Oh, what a fool I’ve been.