Fake Dating My Ex’s Hockey Stepbrother

SOPHIE’s POV

They say delusion is a dangerous drug. But for the past twenty four hours, I’d been completely high on it. 

Seeing a velvet ring box hidden in your best friend’s backpack will do that to you. 

For a full day, I’d been floating, convinced that the sudden distance between us, the weird glances, and the late-night text messages meant he was finally ready to step out of the friend zone and into my life. Forever.

Right now, we’re in his living room, plopped in his couch and I couldn’t take my eyes off the box in his hand.

He was doing it!

‘’I need to tell you something’’ My best friend, Noah Grayson muttered, scratching the back of his head.

He was nervous. 

I could tell just by the way his feet drummed against the floor and the harsh running of his hand through his hair.

I shifted in my seat, my heart hammering against my chest as I watched him stretch the velvet box to me.

My hand trembled as I took it, slowly opening the box to reveal a 2 carat diamond ring.

It was different when I found it in his backpack and had no idea what to do. Now that he was openly giving it to me? I couldn’t hold back anymore.

‘’Ye—‘’

‘’I am planning on proposing to Daisy after graduation.’’

My stomach dropped, chills running down my spine like a bucket of ice block had been poured all over me.

Was this some sort of a joke?

He’d clung to me since their breakup, inciting something deep within me I’d tried so hard to conceal. We almost…kissed.

My hand tightened into fists by my side, my nails digging into the flesh of my palm. 

‘’You want to… propose?’’ I managed to choke out, the word tasting like ash. ‘’To Daisy?’’

‘’Yeah!’’ He beamed, completely oblivious to the fact that he had just single handedly tore down my whole world. ‘’I know things have been rocky between us lately,’’

Rocky?

They broke up!

He had caught her tongue tied with one of his hockey teammates. 

When she found out he knew, she broke up with him and gaslighted him into thinking it was all his fault.

That was all he’d talked about for weeks.

About how he was a failure for pushing her to the brink.

‘’…and I’ve been whining to you twenty-four seven about how we were drifting apart. But realizing I might lose her? It made me see clearly. I need her, Sophie.’’

His words cut through my thoughts.

I wanted to scream, wanted to violently shake him, maybe kiss him.

I had dropped everything—Ignored my deadlines, skipped sleep, and played the doting therapist just to heal his broken heart.

I did it because i have loved my best friend, Noah Grayson for as long as I can remember. And for a long while, I was contented with just watching him whine about his girlfriends while I secretely harbored feelings for him.

But today? 

Today had been a lethal blow to my fragile heart. 

Because I had not only mistook his recent behavior towards me as love but I had also deluded myself into thinking we could be something more. 

‘’Sophie?!’’ 

‘’Earth to Sophie!’’

I broke out of my reverie, ‘’Y-Yes?’’ 

His face twisted as he stared at me with raised brows. ‘’The ring. I wanted to know if it’s good enough. Is it something you’d happily say yes to?’’ He asked, sliding the ring in and out of my finger.

My stomach churned. It fit perfectly. 

I watched him do it, not even bothering to stop him. 

‘’I don’t think it’s about the ring, Noah. You can’t just propose to someone you aren’t even dating.’’ I say, hoping that could get his head straight.

Noah shook his head. ‘’We are back together.’’

My stomach did a violent flip.

I felt a round of nausea jolt through me and a large bile form at the back of my throat.

I swallowed, forcing it back.

My eyes drift from his ocean blue eyes to his perfectly fitted shirt.

He looked different. Not a wreck like he did yesterday and every other day since they broke up.

I should’ve known they were back together with the way his emotions had taken a 360.

I forced out a small chuckle. ‘’Well that’s great! Guess you won’t be needing me anymore.’’ I murmured under my breath, a bitter smile cracking across my lips.

‘’I should probably go home now. I’ve got a lot of studying to do.’’ I stood up from the couch and turned but his hand wrapped around my wrist just before I could take a step.

‘’I know I’ve been a real pain in the ass lately. And I’m glad you’ve always been there for me.’’ 

I slowly turned to meet him, my heart melting. ‘’That is what best friends do.’’ I muttered, the word  ‘best friend’ tasting like ash in my mouth.

Noah smiled, nodding. ‘’That’s why I wanna make it up to you.’’ He stood up, his frame towering over me.

‘’We should go to a party, have fun and ease up a little.’’ His breath fanned my face as he spoke, his eyes piercing into mine. 

It almost seemed like he knew the effect he had on me.

I gulped, breaking eye contact. ‘’I—I don’t think I should. I need to finish my report.’’ 

Noah’s hand clamored down on my glasses, dragging it down to the brim of my nose.

‘’Hey!’’ I scolded, slapping his hand away.

He chuckled. ‘’You’re such a nerd.’’ He helped place the glass back at the bridge of my nose. ‘’Screw the report, Sophie. We are going to have fun.’’ 

He pulled me to the dining table and tossed a paper bag in my hand.

I stared at it skeptically before bringing out the silk like product.

A gasp escaped my lips. 

It was a dress. A red, knee-length dress.

Had he already planned to take me out tonight?

He even got me a dress…

‘’Noah…’’ I beamed.

‘’So…is it a yes or yes?’’ He asked, raising an eyebrow.

‘’Yes!’’ 

The ride to the party was insanely quiet. Noah explained that one of the cool kids, his hockey buddy had planned a house party.

What he had failed to mention was that his toxic girlfriend, Daisy would be the one to welcome us.

She jumped on Noah immediately she saw him and pressed a kiss to his lips.

Then her eyes slowly landed on me.

God, I loathed her!

Not because I was jealous of her even though I was absolutely damn jealous of her.

But because she failed to see Noah’s worth and only held unto him because she basked in the relevance that he gave her.

Her eyes skimmed through my dress before it fell on me. 

‘’Well don’t the nerd look hot? I mean… apart from the glasses and the hair and the shoes…’’ Her face was scrunched as she criticized every single thing on me.

‘’But the dress! Damn, my dress looks good on you.’’ 

My eyes snapped up to Noah.

Her dress?!

He made me wear his girlfriend’s fucking dress?!

He didn’t even look at me. Just circled his hand around Daisy’s and walked into the house.

I immediately regretted ever saying yes to Noah.

I should’ve never agreed to coming knowing perfectly well that I wouldn’t fit in.

I should turn around and take my anti-social ass back home.

But Daisy turned and corked me a knowing smile. ‘’Aren’t you gonna come?’’ 

It was like she was mocking me.

Like she knew I didn’t want to be here. 

I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction. ‘’I’m coming.’’ I muttered, slowly taking a step in.

This party was gonna suck.