All Chapters of BORROWED LOVE ON ICE : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

XAVIER'S POVAfter the dinner with Melissa, we didn’t say much on the way back to the hotel. There was something in the air—not awkwardness, exactly. Just this sense of everything hanging in balance. She mumbled a quick “goodnight” at the lobby and disappeared down the corridor before I could even reply.I didn’t chase her. Didn’t need to.We had our moment out there on the ice. That was enough.My room was quiet, almost too quiet. I kicked off my shoes and dropped onto the bed, still half in my clothes, half in my thoughts. My body was exhausted, but my brain wouldn’t shut down. Victory buzzed in my veins like caffeine.Then my phone vibrated.Katrina.I smiled and swiped to answer.“Hey, superstar,” she said, her voice bright.“Hey, you caught the game?”“Caught it? Xavier, I screamed so loud when you scored that last goal, I think my neighbors think I got proposed to.”I chuckled, relaxing into the mattress. “Glad we made it worth watching.”“You didn’t just make it worth watching.

MELISSA'S POVDinner ended much later than expected. The evening had been a whirlwind of compliments, congratulations, flashing cameras, and forced smiles. The Mexican Ice Hockey Federation had pulled out all the stops to honor us, and while I appreciated the gesture, I couldn't deny how exhausting it all was. Pretending to be Xavier's doting girlfriend under the eyes of people who scrutinized our every glance and every laugh took its toll.Still, I smiled when necessary, laughed at the right cues, and even leaned in closer when the photographers demanded another picture. At one point, Xavier whispered something so ridiculous in my ear that I genuinely burst into laughter. Not because I wanted to, but because I couldn’t help it. For a second, I forgot we were pretending.When the night finally ended, we left the restaurant under the city’s golden lights. I was grateful when we slipped into the back seat of the waiting car and the doors shut on the world. The silence between us wasn’t

XAVIER’S POVThe next morning, I woke up feeling energized—and then I remembered Katrina. My girlfriend.What day of the week is it today? She should be off duty at the hospital.It had been too long since I spent time with Katrina. Between the constant media frenzy, our victory celebration, and the entire fake dating act with Melissa, my real life had been swallowed by the image everyone else expected me to maintain.But today, I wanted out of that spotlight—at least for a while. I needed something normal. Something real. And Katrina—she was my normal.I pulled out my phone and dialed her number. It rang twice before she picked up."Hello?"Her voice sounded tired but familiar. Grounding."Hey," I said, leaning against the kitchen counter. "I was wondering if you were free today. I know it's short notice, but... I thought maybe we could hang out. Just you and me. It’s been a while."There was a pause, and I could hear the hum of something in the background—maybe hospital monitors

MELISSA'S POVThe sun had barely settled into its afternoon glow when Marco texted us, inviting Xavier and me for lunch. It wasn’t unusual—he liked to keep things casual, loved talking shop over pasta or sushi. But today felt different. The moment I saw his name flash across my phone, my chest tightened slightly. Maybe it was the tone of his message. Or maybe it was the lingering thoughts from last night.The entire internet was still going wild over our fake relationship. Our photos from Mexico had crossed over a million likes, and overnight, both our modelling accounts had been verified. Just like that."Welcome to the blue tick club," Marco had texted with laughing emojis. "You two are on fire."But something in me wasn’t laughing. Not today.I showed up at the venue—an upscale glass-paneled Italian restaurant Marco adored—in a soft cream midi dress, my hair tied up in a sleek bun, sunglasses perched on my head. I arrived before Xavier, which was rare. He was always early.Marco wa

MELLISA'S POVAfter the call with Xavier, I sat in my living room, staring at the black screen of my phone as if it might somehow offer an explanation. The silence in the room was deafening, amplifying the growing discomfort in my chest.Why did he hang up like that?Why did he sound so distant?My thoughts chased each other in circles, refusing to give me peace. He hadn’t been himself all day, and now this? The short responses, the way he brushed me off—as though I wasn’t even worth a full sentence. And that wasn’t just anyone on the other line. That was me. Melissa Brown.I dropped the phone onto the couch and let out a frustrated sigh, pushing myself off the cushion and heading toward the kitchen. If I was going to overthink this entire thing, I might as well do it while cooking something comforting. My go-to: mac and cheese. Warm, cheesy, uncomplicated.While the pasta boiled and the cheese sauce simmered, I tried to shake off the tight feeling in my chest. Maybe he was tired. May