Fake Dating The Hockey Star

Fake it loud

(Jaxon)

I didn't sleep much last night.

Not because I was nervous about pretending to be Kendall's boyfriend. I could pull off a smile and a hand on her waist in my sleep, but because I kept thinking about what happened to her back then.

I knew about it.

Every time we played against Frost Ridge, I'd see her in the stands. She always looked so sad, so alone. And I heard the rumors. Everyone did. They called her fat. Made jokes about her weight. Chase and his crew were the worst ones. Always making comments loud enough for people to hear.

I watched it happen and I hated myself for not doing anything about it.

She didn't deserve that. None of it.

The fact that I just stood by and watched. Yeah, it eats at me more than I want to admit. I was playing my games, while she was getting torn apart by those jerks. I told myself it wasn't my business, but now I wonder if that was just an excuse.

She says she doesn't blame me. But I do.

I looked at the time. I had to get ready for my game today. I was playing with Frost Ridge and it was the perfect opportunity for Kendall and I to use as part of our fake dating.

*The roar of the crowd hit me the second I stepped onto the ice.

Frost Ridge. Their name alone made my blood burn. I hated everything about them. Their smug faces, the cheap hits, the way they thought they ruled the rink. But today wasn’t just another game. It was the game. The one where everything started.

I spotted him the second we skated past center ice. Chase Ryder. Still wearing that same cocky grin, like he owned the damn world. If only he knew what was coming.

Coach gave the signal, and I dropped into position, my stick ready, focus locked in. But then I caught the energy shift. It wasn’t on the ice. It was in the crowd.

The whispers started, barely noticeable, but they built fast.

I looked over.

Kendall.

She stood near the boards, clipboard in hand, dressed to impress, confident, like she ran the entire damn league. Her hair was pulled back, eyes focused, that smirk just barely playing on her lips. She looked like power. Like revenge in heels.

People were staring. Pointing. Leaning over to whisper in shock.

“Is that Kendall James?”

“No way. She used to go here, right?”

“She looks completely different.”

“Wasn’t she the one?”

“Oh my god. That’s her.”

I skated over during a line change and leaned against the glass right where she stood. “You ready for the show, babe?” I asked, voice low enough that only she could hear.

She didn’t even look at me, just smiled and said, “Let’s give them something to talk about.”

So I did.

After the second goal, I pulled off my helmet, sweat dripping down my face, and skated straight to the edge. I reached up, took her hand, and kissed it. Not just a quick peck. It was slow like I was making a statement. Every camera caught it. Every Frost Ridge player saw it. Chase saw it.

He was looking at me from across the ice, and for the first time, he didn’t look smug. He looked upset. It was like his world had just shifted.

Good.

Let him panic. Let him remember what he did to her. The girl he humiliated, the girl he hit, the girl he laughed at with his i***t friends. Let him realize she wasn’t broken, she was better. Stronger. Smarter. And now, she had me.

The crowd was getting louder than ever. Coaches were whispering. Even the announcers were scrambling.

“She’s the new hockey agent, right?”

“I heard she’s scouting talent for the pros.”

“Didn’t Chase, wasn’t he...?”

Perfect.

When the whistle blew again, I turned back to the ice. Kendall gave me a wink, her lips curving up just slightly.

Chase was glaring at her now. His jaw clenched so tight I thought he might snap a tooth. But I could see it. Beneath the anger, beneath the shock, he knew.

He lost.

And we were just getting started.

~~~~~~~~

We won the game.

But barely.

I didn’t even care about the score. I didn’t care about the goal I landed in overtime or the way the crowd screamed when we sealed the deal. None of that mattered.

Not compared to what I saw when I came down the tunnel.

Kendall stood at the far end of the hallway, arms folded, expression unreadable. She looked calm and dangerous in the best way. A few scouts and coaches were already whispering to her, asking questions, shaking hands. She gave them polite smiles and nods.

And then Chase showed up.

He shoved through the crowd, skates still on, helmet in hand, eyes locked on her like she was the last girl on earth. The second he got close, I stepped between them.

“Back up,” I said, low.

“Relax, pretty boy,” Chase muttered, brushing past me like I didn’t exist. “I just want to talk to her.”

I watched Kendall’s shoulders straighten as she turned toward him. Her eyes were cold. Her voice was colder. “Talk? Like you did that night? When you bet your friends you could get the fat girl to fall for you?”

The hallway fell dead silent. Someone dropped a water bottle. No one moved.

Chase flinched, but then his smirk returned, cocky and defensive. “That was three years ago, Kendall. You look different now. I didn’t even recognize you at first. I mean, come on, you can’t still be mad about...”

“Mad?” she cut in, laughing. “You destroyed my scholarship. You ruined my name. You hit me, Chase. You hit me. And your friend Brad filmed it and laughed like it was a joke, he even showed me a picture when I was injured.”

His smirk vanished.

“And now,” she added, stepping closer, “I’m the hockey agent with enough influence to make sure you never go pro. Funny how the world works, huh?”

He looked at me, his eyes wide, voice shaking with fake calm. “You’re using her. This is a setup.”

“You used her first,” I said flatly. “Now you get to watch what it feels like from the other side.”

“You think I need you two to make it?” he snapped, face red. “I’m still the best player out here.”

Kendall stepped in front of me. “Then maybe you should start acting like it. Because right now? You’re just a bitter, scared boy with a bad temper and no control. And I don’t draft boys like that. I bury them.”

Chase’s jaw clenched. “You can’t scare me.”

She smiled. “I don’t have to.”

Then she turned, grabbed my hand, and we walked away.

Everyone stared. No one said a word.

And for the first time in his life, Chase Ryder had no one clapping for him.