By admin Fake Dating My Ex’s Favourite Hockey Player Novel CH 102
EMILIA
20
The smile returns, that maddening one that never quite reaches his eyes unless he’s with me. “Good. Because I have something for you. It’s not Seth’s dead body – I’m still working on that – but I think you’ll like it.”
Before I can question him, he grabs my hand and tugs me out of the bathroom. I follow, towel still clutched tight, half–steamed and half–stunned as we step into his room.
Most of our stuff is already packed. Liam was determined to leave before noon, much to Veronica’s heartbreak stay for her recital, but he was hell–bent on getting us out before Seth woke up.
What wasn’t here when I went to shower, however, are the three gift bags now sitting neatly on the bed.
I blink. “You didn’t say this something came in… triplicate.”
He just smiles like a man with secrets. “What colour do you want to start with?”
“At least let me get dressed for this.” Seeing he’s pretending to not hear a word I say, I sigh. “White.”
He hands me the white bag. It’s heavier than expected.
When I peek inside, something catches in my throat.
–
she begged him to
No way.
—
I reach in and slowly pull out a hardcover novel the limited edition. Bonus chapters. Character art. Gilded edges. The kind of cover you touch like it’s holy. It only released last month and costs more than my dignity. I’ve had it bookmarked in every browser tab like a prayer.
And somehow, it’s in my hands.
I don’t even have time to process it before I flip open the front page- and see it.
11
A handwritten note. Inked in my favourite author’s signature. Addressed to me. To Emilia. Keep baking. Keep dreaming. You matter more than you think.
My throat closes up. “Liam,” I breathe, because what else is there to say?
F
It’s the best gift I’ve ever received. And this includes the Shrek swimsuit Tessa gave me last Halloween, which unrivalled.
―
until now
–
was
When I look up, Liam’s not smirking anymore. He’s watching me like he’s not sure if he did too much.
“I noticed you had the full set,” he says quietly, “but the last book didn’t match the other covers. It bugged me more than it probably. should’ve.”
His tone is casual, but I can see the nerves tucked beneath it. He’s not showing off. He’s hoping this matters to me the way it mattered to him.
It does.
More than I can say.
My heart is still somewhere in my throat when Liam tilts his head and gestures at the next gift bag.
“Pink?” he asks, a little hopeful.
I wipe at my eyes before he can see anything suspicious happening there and nod, reaching for it.
The bag’s lighter. Softer. I pull out what looks like a simple hardcover book with a pale pink spine. When I open it, the first page nearly undoes me all over again.
It’s me.
A photo of me at the amusement park from a few weeks ago. I’m biting into cotton candy with a little too much enthusiasm, eyes
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3:34 PM P
Chapter 102
squinting, nose scrunched. A total mess.
Beneath it is a sticky note in Liam’s handwriting.
You said you never took photos. I decided to fix that.
I blink rapidly and turn the page.
*
C
Another photo. I’m mid–laugh, probably at one of his bad jokes, hair blowing into my face. The note beside it reads:
You laugh like it surprises you. I hope it always does.
The next one: I’m in bakery, asleep on the counter. A smudge of drool on my cheeks.
You won’t agree when I say you’re always beautiful, but even now, you take my breath away.
–
I flip through more pages me with Tessa’s plushie, me screaming at Lacey in my swimsuit by the pool, me scowling at a rigged game booth. All tiny moments, all forgotten, except now they’re immortalised in paper and ink, and every single one has a scribbled thought from Liam, like he was thinking about me even when I wasn’t looking.
By the time I reach the end, I have to close the book for a second. Just to breathe.
“I didn’t think you even liked taking photos,” I say, my voice embarrassingly thin.
“I don’t,” Liam replies, watching me with that quiet intensity again. “But you said you wanted to remember. So I did.”
I look up at him. “This is… this is so- –“I shake my head, because I genuinely don’t have a word for it. “God, who even are
His lips twitch. “Your fake boyfriend. Who’s maybe hoping to upgrade.”
I stare at him, startled.
And just like that, he nudges the final bag toward me.
Black.
There’s a weight to it. Like whatever’s inside might actually matter.
you?”
My fingers fumble slightly as I peel the tissue paper back
Inside is a key.
and then pause.
Just a single silver key on a simple black ribbon.
I look up at him, confused. “What is this?”
He shifts, suddenly sheepish. “My spare. To my apartment. In New York.”
“Liam…”
“I’m not asking you to move in,” he says quickly. “I just- I wanted you to know that I want you around. That I want this-” he gestures between us“-for real. No pretending. No faking.”
My breath catches.
“Emilia,” he says, voice softer now, steadier, “will you be my girlfriend? Officially? Fully? No take–bac
And before I can even form a response, the door creaks open behind us.
We both freeze.
“Liam?” a voice calls out brightly. A second later, the door opens with horrifying ease.
“I’m back–1”
We spin around just in time to see a woman step in, pause mid–sentence, and stare.
N
She’s elegant, impeccably dressed, holding a makeup bag in one hand. Her blonde hair flows in waves, her brown eyes are mesmerising.
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