All Chapters of Dear Ex Boyfriend, The Hot Hockey Captain is My New Date.: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

Hailey POV I swallowed hard, forcing my voice to stay steady. “Say what you want to say and stop playing games.”Vanessa sighed dramatically, like I was the one wasting her time. “You really don’t see it, do you? You’re surrounded by people who claim to protect you, but you never stop to ask who benefits the most from staying close.”My chest tightened. “If this is another one of your sick attempts to mess with my head, it won’t work.”“Oh, it already is,” she replied calmly. “I just thought you deserved a heads-up before things get ugly.”“Ugly?” I scoffed. “My life has been ugly since the day you decided to insert yourself into it.”She laughed again, low and sharp. “You’re stronger than you think, Hailey. That’s why this will hurt even more.”The call ended before I could respond.I stared at my phone for a long moment, my reflection staring back at me from the dark screen. My hands felt cold, my heart pounding louder than it should. I hated how easily she could shake me, how just

Hailey's pov I was still floating in the hazy afterglow, body limp and trembling against his chest, when Roy shifted. His strong arms tightened around me for a moment, as though he couldn’t bear to let go, then gently rolled me onto my back. The mattress dipped under his weight as he hovered above me, dark eyes drinking me in like I was the only thing in the world.“You okay, angel?” he whispered, voice rough with emotion and restraint. His thumb brushed away the last tear track on my cheek.I nodded, breathless, reaching up to trace his jaw. “More than okay. I just… I need you.”A low, possessive sound rumbled in his chest. He leaned down to kiss me—slow, deep, tasting myself faintly on his tongue from when he’d licked his fingers clean. The kiss was tender at first, then turned hungry again, making my toes curl.He broke away only to trail his lips down my throat, pressing open-mouthed kisses along my collarbone, the swell of my breast through my tank top. His hands slid the thin s

Hailey's pov The next morning dawned cold and crisp, frost glittering on the windshield of Roy’s truck as he drove me to school. He had early practice again, so Ryan rode in the back seat, his hand resting on my shoulder the whole way, thumb tracing soothing circles. They both sensed something was off—I had barely slept, Coach Miller’s warning echoing in my head—but neither pushed me to talk about it yet.Roy parked in his usual spot near the entrance and walked me to the doors, arm slung protectively around my waist. He pressed a slow, lingering kiss to my lips just before we parted.“See you at lunch,” he murmured. “Text if you need me sooner.”Ryan stole his own quick kiss on my cheek. “We’ve got your back, princess.”I nodded, forcing a smile, and headed inside.The atmosphere hit me like a wall.Whispers followed me down the hallway, heads turning as I passed. Phones were angled none-too-subtly in my direction. A group of freshmen near the lockers fell silent the moment I walke

Hailey's pov The sirens grew louder, but Luca’s voice was the only thing that kept me anchored. He stayed right there, kneeling in the rain, murmuring soft reassurances until the paramedics arrived.I remember fragments after that: bright lights, questions, the sting of antiseptic. My ankle was badly sprained, ribs bruised, a small cut on my forehead stitched up. Nothing life-threatening, but enough to scare the hell out of me.I fumbled for my phone in the ambulance, hands shaking as I dialed Roy first.“Hailey?” His voice was sharp, instantly alert.“Accident,” I managed. “Brakes failed. I’m okay, but—”“Where are you?” he demanded. I heard keys jingling, a door slamming.I gave him the intersection. Then I called Ryan. Same reaction—panic wrapped in steel.“We’re coming. Both of us. Stay on the line.”They arrived before the ambulance even left the scene.Roy was out of the truck first, rain-soaked in seconds, pushing past the paramedics with that captain’s authority that made eve

Hailey's pov We didn’t go home.Roy took back roads, doubling back twice to make sure no headlights followed. My hands shook the entire drive, adrenaline crashing into cold fear. He kept one hand on the wheel, the other locked around mine like a lifeline.As soon as we hit a straight stretch, he dialed Ryan on speaker.“It’s the Vargas,” Roy said without greeting. “Brighton’s working with them. Planning to take me out at tomorrow’s game—equipment sabotage, maybe worse. They gave him a gun. We were spotted. Shots fired.”Ryan’s voice was deadly calm. “How many?”“Four. Armed. They’ll come hard now.”A beat of silence. “Get to the safe house. I’m rallying everyone—our guys, allies, whoever owes us. This ends tomorrow.”Roy nodded even though Ryan couldn’t see. “Brighton’s desperate. Hailey’s dad must’ve cut him off—no more money, no more cover.”I stared out the window, pieces clicking. Dad had always liked Brighton—saw him as “good stock.” But after the scandals, the company collapse…