By admin Fake Dating My Ex’s Favourite Hockey Player Novel CH 17
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EMILIA
They say everyone has core memories–the moments that shape us, the ones we never forget.
For as long as I can remember, every single one of mine has had Zane in it.
Every laugh. Every late–night drive. Every whispered promise.
Everything worth remembering was only worth it because he was there.
But now, as I sit alone in my closed bakery, staring at the faint outline of dried blood on my palm, I wonder–what happens when the person tied to all your memories becomes the one thing you want to forget?
What happens when the moments that once felt like home now feel like a trap?
I squeeze my eyes shut, willing the memories away. But they come
anyway.
Zane’s voice, warm and teasing. His hands are steady on the steering wheel as he drives us through the city at night. The way he used to look at me like I was the only thing he ever wanted.
The way he looked at me today.
Like I was nothing. Like I never had been.
I take a shaky breath and push myself to stand. Sitting here, drowning in the past, won’t change anything. I need to move. To do something.
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CHAPTER 17
I grab my phone, my fingers hovering over the screen. My call log is empty except for Tessa’s number.
Tsk. I click my tongue. The lonely life Zane made me live would’ve been depressing if I didn’t at least have Tess.
Thank God I have her.
I look at the cut on my hand and realise it no longer stings as much.
Both the cut and the ache in my chest.
My outburst at Zane had little to do with him pushing me. It was more like the push was the last straw, not the cause.
I can’t name the feeling in my chest. It’s freeing. Almost like I had my head underwater for so long and I can finally breathe.
I smile.
I call her. The phone barely rings before she picks up, but I don’t let her speak. My voice is hoarse, raw from crying, but I don’t care anymore.
“I need Liam’s number.”
There’s a beat of silence. Then, Tess exhales sharply. “Em, what happened?”
I press my forehead against the cool wall, my fingers gripping the phone tighter. “Just send me the number, Tess.” My voice is flat, sounding as drained as I feel.
Another pause. I can hear her hesitation, the way she wants to push and demand answers. It’s her nature, after all. But she doesn’t.
“Okay,” she finally says. “I’m sending it now.”
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A second later, my phone buzzes with a message. I don’t even look before pressing the number and hitting call.
My heart pounds as the line rings. Once. Twice.
Then, a deep voice answers. “This is Liam.”
“So your phone actually works?” I say, my smile widening. “For a second, I thought it was broken or something. But nope, it works just fine. Which means… you’ve seen everything on social media, huh?”
There’s a pause. Then a sigh. “Guess that answers my question about whether you’re mad.”
“I was.” I don’t bother hiding it. I walk to the sink and finally run my hand under the tap. Then I use my wet hand to rub at the blood on my face. “But then I got even madder at someone else.”
Silence. It stretches long enough that I glance at my phone to make sure he’s still there. As I dry my hand on a towel, I ask dryly, “You still there?”
“You’re not going to ask why I didn’t reach out?” His voice is quiet. He sounds so defeated it makes me uncomfortable.
A million ways to respond flash through my mind–ways that won’t kick a man that seems to already be down. But honestly? That sounds exhausting. And I don’t have it in me to care.
“I was going to ask,” I tell him. “But now? I don’t care enough. You don’t get the chance to explain yourself. You don’t deserve it. And honestly? You’re a fucking asshole. Tess thinks too highly of you.”
She keeps saying he’s going through stuff, that he just doesn’t know how to handle it well. But no matter what I’m dealing with, I’ll never act the way he did. So no, I’m giving him a pass. Not now. Not ever.
13:06
CHAPTER 17
Liam exhales sharply, like he was expecting me to say something else. Maybe something softer.
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But he’ll start learning soon enough that I’m not that girl he let strangers on social media harass for two weeks straight.
“Tessa talks too much,” he mutters.
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I scoff. “And you do too little.”
Silence stretches between us. I let it. Let him sit in it, let him feel it. Because I’m done making things easy for people who don’t do the same
for me.
Finally, he speaks. “You called for a reason.
I roll my eyes. “No shit, genius.”
“Then say it.
”
I drag a hand through my hair then instantly regret it when my injured hand gets tangled in my curls. Well, shit, then.
I lean against the counter. “I need to see you.”
Liam doesn’t hesitate. “Where?”
“Somewhere public. Somewhere the paparazzi can see us together. If we want to move forward, people need to at least think you care about me.”
“Emilia, I-”
“I don’t care,” I cut in. “And I mean that. I really don’t. You keep your secrets, I’ll keep mine. Deal?”
Silence.
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CHAPTER 17
“But Zane’s cruise is in two weeks,” I continue. “By then, we should at least pretend to know things about each other. So let’s start now.”
Liam is quiet for a moment. Then, he sighs. “Fine. Where do you want to meet?”
I smirk. “Somewhere casual. Great scenery, so I look heavenly in the candid shots. And there better be good food.”
He lets out a dry chuckle. “You sure this isn’t just about making me
suffer?”
“Oh, it definitely is. But I also want a nice meal.”
A pause. Then-“I’ll send you a place.”
“Perfect.” I grab my keys and head for the door. “Wear something nice, Liam. If we’re doing this, we’re doing it right. Oh, and you don’t have to send me the location. Come pick me up at Tessa’s in two hours.”
Before he can respond, I hang up.
This is going to be fun.