Fake Dating My Ex’s Favourite Hockey Player
Chapter 145
–
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 faceplanted 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?”
go?”
“You don’t leave.”
I huff a quiet laugh. “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 at that really smiles this time, like 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 else, but…” she yawns, snuggling just slightly closer, “Tess says it’s the heart that counts,”
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Chapter 145
The closeness is heady, her breath warm and sweet from the last 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, lashes 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 the last thing she hears before she drifts off, completely relaxed 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 finally lay her down, tucking the blanket over her and brushing her hair away from her face, I kiss her forehead and whisper something I’m not brave enough to say when
she’s awake.
Then I lie down beside her. And I stay.
