Fake Dating My Ex's Hockey Star Brother (Maya Scott) novel Chapter 76

BRAYDON’S POV

If someone had told me back in junior year that I’d be sitting here with a full 30% in two courses and not less than 25% in all the others after midterms, I would’ve called them a crackhead. Probably would’ve even put money on it. Yeah, I know how that sounds, but I won’t sugarcoat anything.

I sit for a long second, just staring at the screen like the numbers might flip back to what I’m used to but they don’t.

I even log out of the portal, wait a couple seconds, and log back in. It’s the same thing. I expected to do okay, maybe scrape something respectable if I was lucky… but not this. These grades? They are insane. My brain is actually… braining for once.

And yeah, I won’t lie…. Katy deserves half the credit. Maybe more. Honestly? She might be the best thing that’s happened to me.

I blow out a breath and lean back, pulling up my contacts.

“Where the hell is his sss?” I mutter, scrolling. My old man wanted to see my grades. Good for him.

He’s about to open this attachment with the confidence of a man expecting failure. And the disappointment that’s going to hit him? Beautiful. I’d pay anything to watch it in 4K.

I take my time composing the sss and I attach the file, read it once, then hit send.

I lean back with a smile, my toes practically curling from how good this feels. What a life I’ve been living lately. Everything’s been falling into place, smooth as hell, and it’s all because of-

A knock cuts straight through my thoughts. Talk about the devil.

I jump to my feet and hurry to the door, pulling it open a little too fast. For a second, I almost pull Katy into a hug, but the look on her face stops me cold. She looks… like she’s trying not to cry and explode at the same time. That’s not how she sounded on the phone.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, stepping back as she walks in. Her shoulders are stiff, her movements tight. When I close the door and turn toward her, something sinks in my stomach. I don’t know why, but it feels like whatever this is… it’s about me.

“Did something happen?” I try again.

She swallows.

“Congratulations on passing midterms,” she says but the way she says it? It’s cold and detached like she’s talking to some guy she barely knows.

I step closer and reach for her chin, trying to lift her face so I can actually see what’s going on but she pulls back.

My hand freezes mid-air, and something tightens in my chest. My pulse picks up, slow at first, then faster.

“I’m not just here to congratulate you. I also want to say something,” she adds.

“Katy, what is going on?” I take another step toward her. “Wasn’t it you I talked to like ten minutes ago? Did I do something?”

She tilts her head, her eyes sharpening, and the warmth completely gone. “Do you feel like you did something?”

I drag a hand through my hair. “I don’t know. I’m just saying there has to be a reason for this switch, and you’re looking at me like I messed up.”

“You didn’t do anything.” She lets out a short, humorless chuckle. “After all, I’m not that special to you.”

The hell is she talking about?

I stare at her, waiting for the punchline or a smile. Something to show that this is a joke but nothing comes. My stomach drops a little lower.

“Quit messing with me,” I say quietly, shaking my head. “You’re freaking me out.”

“What makes you think I’m messing with you?” she fires back, her expression darkening even more. “Is everything about me a joke to you?”

“First of all, Katy… cut the crap.” My voice comes out tighter than I mean it to, but I don’t take it back. “Stop saying those things. And second, if you have a problem with me, tell me. If I did something wrong, give me a chance to explain myself or apologize.”

She looks down at the floor, her lashes lowering, shoulders rising and falling once in a slow breath. A few seconds drag by before she finally lifts her eyes to mine.

“I don’t want your apology,” she says quietly, her eyes fixed on mine. “And when you did whatever you did, I’m sure you didn’t think it was a big deal. I only came here to tell you we’re ending everything. The tutoring, seeing each other, being friends… everything.”

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