All Chapters of Faking It With The Hockey Playboy: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

Ryan POVI was sitting in my car after another skipped practice when Cassandra texted me."Come over? My parents are out. We can hang out."I stared at the message, debating whether I had the energy to deal with her today. Cassandra had been clingy lately, constantly asking why I was being distant, why I was not responding to her messages as quickly.The truth was, I did not have the energy for her anymore. Did not have the energy for anyone.But sitting alone in my car feeling sorry for myself was not exactly productive either."Be there in 20," I texted back.The drive to Cassandra's house was familiar. I had been there dozens of times over the months we had been dating. Her house was smaller than mine but nicer in some ways. More homey. Less like a museum.Cassandra opened the door before I could knock, wearing a smile that did not quite reach her eyes."Hey, baby," she said, pulling me inside. "I missed you.""I saw you at school today," I pointed out."I know, but you barely talk

Lila POVI was walking to my car after school when I heard her voice behind me."Lila. We need to talk."I turned to see Cassandra standing a few feet away, her arms crossed, her expression cold."I have nothing to say to you," I said, turning back to my car."Well, I have plenty to say to you," Cassandra said, stepping closer. "And trust me, you want to hear this in private rather than have me shout it across the parking lot."Something in her tone made me stop. There was a threat there. A promise of something bad.I turned back to face her. "What do you want?""Not here," Cassandra said, glancing around at other students heading to their cars. "Follow me."She walked toward the back of the parking lot where fewer people parked. I debated just getting in my car and leaving, but curiosity and fear kept me following.We stopped between two large SUVs that provided some privacy."What is this about?" I asked.Cassandra pulled out her phone and started scrolling. "I know your secret, Lil

Lila POVI barely slept that night after the dinner.Derek's words kept replaying in my mind. "I am the one who started this. I am the one with the leverage. So yes, I get to decide when it ends."He was right, of course. That had always been the arrangement. Derek held all the power because he had my secrets. He had the pictures of my notebook. He had proof of my feelings for Ryan.And now he was using that power to keep me trapped in a relationship I desperately needed to escape.The irony was not lost on me. Derek was proving exactly what I had tried to tell him at the dinner. That our relationship was built on blackmail. That it could never be real because of how it started.But that did not change my problem. I had four days left before Cassandra's deadline. Four days to break up with Derek or she would expose everything.I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, trying to figure out a way forward.Could I tell Derek about Cassandra's threat? No. He would try to confront her, and then

Lila POVThe moment the words left my mouth, I realized what I had done.I had agreed to let Ryan help me. To fight back against Cassandra together.But that would mean Ryan getting involved. That would mean him potentially finding out what was really in my notebook. What Cassandra was really threatening to expose.My feelings for him.Panic flooded through me."Actually," I said quickly, pulling my hand away from Ryan's. "I changed my mind."Ryan's expression shifted from hopeful to confused. "What?""I do not need your help," I said, taking a step back. "I do not want your intervention. I am handling this on my own.""Lila, you just agreed—""I know what I just agreed to," I interrupted. "And I was wrong. I got caught up in the moment. But I have thought about it and I do not want your help.""Why not?" Ryan asked, clearly bewildered by my sudden change."Because this is my problem to solve," I said. "Not yours. And I do not need you getting involved and making things more complicat

Derek POVI sat at the corner table of the coffee shop, the same table where I had brought Lila after she almost froze to death. The same place where she had looked at me with vulnerability and trust.Now I sat here alone, staring at the door, waiting for her to walk through it.Seven o'clock came and went. No Lila.I ordered a coffee I did not want and kept watching the door.Seven-fifteen. Still nothing.I pulled out my phone and texted her. "Are you coming?"No response.Seven-thirty. The coffee was cold now. I had been stirring it mindlessly for the past fifteen minutes, not drinking, just occupying my hands.I texted again. "Lila, I'm waiting. Please don't make me come to your house."Still no response.The rational part of my brain knew what this meant. She was not coming. She was avoiding me again, just like she had been avoiding me for days.But I kept sitting there. Kept hoping. Kept thinking that maybe she would change her mind. That maybe she would show up late and we could