Fake Dating My Ex’s Favourite Hockey yer

    bChapter /bb145 /b

    –

    We reach Lacey’s suite first. I make sure she actually brushes her teeth like she swore she would standing outside the bathroom door and threatening to make her drink tap water if she lies. Once she’s facented onto her bed, I shut the door behind her and take a breath.

    Emilia’s leaning against the wall, watching me with a crooked smile. “You’re bossy,” she

    murmurs.

    “You’re lucky I’m not charging for this,” I say, sliding an arm around her waist.

    She leans into me with no resistance. Her steps are small and uneven as we make our way to our suite. “This is nice,” she says, half–drifting. “Being taken care of.”

    “You picked the right person,” I mutter, guiding her through the door.

    Inside, the room is dim and quiet. I help her sit on the edge of the bed, her fingers still curled around mine. She looks up at me with eyes that are tired but soft, the kind of gaze that tugs something loose in your chest.

    “You always show up,” she says.

    I kneel to pull off her shoes. “So do you. You just don’t notice it.”

    Her lips twitch like she’s trying to smile, but sleep’s already pulling her under. “You know

    what I like most about you?” she murmurs.

    “What’s that?”

    goi?/i”

    “You don’t leave.”

    I huff a quietugh. “This is starting to sound like I’m being taken advantage of.”

    She leans in slowly until her forehead rests against mine. “If I exploit you more… will you

    My hand finds the small of her back. “Nah, love. Use me all you want. I’ll stay.”

    –

    She smiles bat /bthat really smiles this timeb, /blike the truth settled somewhere safe inside

    her. “You can exploit me too I’m good at cooking. And baking. And eating, if that helps. I’m not talented in much belse/bb, /bbut…” she yawns, snuggling just slightly closer, “Tess says it’s the heart bthat /bbcounts/bb,/bb” /b

    The closeness is heady, her breath warm and sweet from thest drink she didn’t need. For a second, everything feels suspended like if I said something, anything, it would tilt us both

    over the edge.

    But I don’t.

    –

    I touch her cheek, brushing a thumb along her skin like it’s instinct. Her eyes are half-

    closed,shes brushing the shadows under them. “You’ve got enough heart for both of us,” I say

    quietly. “And you’re more than adorable.”

    She hums, content. “That sounds like cute privilege. I give Tessa that sometimes. She’s really, really cute. Did you know she never gets drunk? Ever? I think she might be a little bit

    cursed.”

    –

    “Mhm,” I say again, but I’m not really listening anymore. Not to her words, at least just her voice, the rhythm of it, the way her breath slows in my arms like she finally let herself be

    tired.

    She presses her lips to my cheek, a kiss so light it feels imagined. I suck in a sharp breath.

    frowns a

    Then she pulls back, mumbles something that might’ve been “goodnight,” then t

    little, eyes fluttering like she’s fighting to stay awake. “Are you gonna sleep too?”

    “In a minute.”

    “You’re warm,” she mumbles.

    “You’re drunk.”

    “Do you still like me when I’m drunk?”

    “Hike you always.”

    That’s thest thing she hears before she drifts off,pletely rxed against me, her breathing soft and even. I stay there for a while, holding her like the moment might disappear if I move too fast.

    And when I finallyy her down, tucking the nket over her and brushing her hair away from her faceb, /bI bkiss /bher forehead and whisper something I’m not brave enough to say when

    bshe’s /bawake.

    Then I lie down beside her. And I stay.

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