Fake Dating My Ex's Favourite Hockey Player

It's been six months since Zane left me. At first, I didn't take it well. He kicked me out, and I had nowhere to go until Tessa, my best friend, booked me the first flight to NYC and forced me to stay with her. I spent nights crashing on her couch, crying in the bathroom when she was at work. I ignored the little bakery - Tessa and I named it The Whimsy Bakehouse after getting smashingly drunk one night in college and having what she called a crazy epiphany - Zane had opened for me after he got his first NHL paycheck for weeks. I couldn't bring myself to step inside. Then Tessa got fed up. She called me a couch potato, said I was wasting my tears on an 'asshole jerk,' and dragged me back to work. Unlearning ten years of habits hasn't been easy. Some nights, I still catch myself staring at my phone, waiting for a message that will never come. Waiting for Zane to say he made a mistake. That he wants me back. But he never does. Not even in my dreams. It's Friday and I'm at the ba

When I first moved into Tessa's apartment, two thoughts hit me. One: Tessa was just as high maintenance as she'd been in college. Everything in her place screamed luxury. High-end furniture, designer décor, the kind of perfectly curated space that made you wonder if people actually lived there. I was happy she had a job that let her maintain the lifestyle. Two: Tessa's apartment was the most comfortable place in the world to feel like shit. Even though she had decorated a guest room just for me, I spent most of my worst nights on her couch, wrapped in an overpriced throw blanket, drinking wine straight from the bottle. And now, as I stare at the notification on my phone, I know exactly what I need to do. I walk into Tessa's kitchen, grab a bottle of red wine, some expensive brand I don't recognize, and collapse onto her couch. Popping the cork, I take a long gulp before daring to look at my phone again. For months, I wanted this. I prayed for him to reach out. Now, it's the last

On good days, I love my best friend. On really bad days, I remind myself she means well.But today? Today is a horrible day, and I'm furious."Hades's asshole" isn't even a high enough scale. I yank my hands out of hers, my anger so hot I actually consider shoving her off the couch - until I notice how close the coffee table is and wince.I'm mad. But not mad enough to injure her. Yet."I can't believe you!" I shoot up from the couch and storm toward my bedroom. Tessa is right behind me."You're overreacting, Em. It's not even a bad thing!"I whip off my left slipper and hurl it at her head, but she's got baseball reflexes from years of playing catch with her dad - and dodges effortlessly.She glares, pointing a finger at me like she's about to scold a misbehaving puppy. "Give me one valid reason why you're mad, and I'll back off."I hate when she does this. Puts me on the spot, makes my brain short-circuit, then steamrolls me into agreeing with her. "I just broke up with Zane!""Acces

LIAM "Aren't you supposed to be some kind of A-list celebrity?" Emilia asks, frowning. She shifts on her feet, trying to re-balance, and I can't help but grin. I'm a full head taller than her, and every time I tilt my head to meet her eyes, she scowls. It makes me laugh every time. "Only in hockey circles," I correct. "But we're probably being stalked by paparazzi right now." It's not even a question-I know that's the case. I've been a hot topic for weeks, ever since the whole mess with Jessica. Even after she confirmed we were never dating, the damage was already done. Now, I can't even walk down the street without being followed. My management won't get off my back, and Coach? He's ripped into me more times than I can count. It's exhausting. All I want to do is play hockey. I never cared about the fame or having to explain myself to the media, especially now that I've been labeled the "bad boy of hockey" who can't keep it in his pants. I don't do relationships. Call me whatev

I should've known tonight wouldn't be normal the second Liam grabbed my hand.Now, fifteen minutes later, I'm still giggling, scrolling through the most ridiculous wedding cakes I've ever seen-one is an exact replica of The Nightmare Before Christmas, complete with tiny Jack and Sally figurines."This one is hideous," I say, turning my phone toward Liam as we walk into our next stop.He barely looks at it before grinning. "Perfect. Let's get two."I snort, slipping my phone into my pocket. It's weird seeing this side of him. I always pictured Liam as the arrogant playboy who could get anything and anyone he wanted.But the reality? It's so different.I didn't expect him to be this easy to talk to-or the type of guy who'd actually go all-in on crashing weddings. And the fact that he's making me order two atrocious cakes for complete strangers? Weirdly adorable.Warmth spreads through my chest, light and unexpected. I haven't had this much fun in forever, and we haven't even done anythi