Chapter021
KATY’S POV
I turn slowly, trying to act casual, and glance at Braydon. He’s buried in his phone but around him, a small crowd of girls are openly staring, whispering, giggling, and trying way too hardtoget his attention. I roll my eyes.
“I’m…not so sure,” I say, letting my annoyance slip before I even think about our fake relationship.” He probably got lost or wandered in by accident.”
Lucy doesn’t seem convinced. Before I can protest, she loops her arm through mine and starts tugging me toward him while I’m still fumbling with my bag zipper.
Braydon stands just as we reach him, tilting his head with an easy smile and my stomach does a weird flip that I refuse to acknowledge.
Lucy, of course, gasps and I feel my cheeks heat up–not for me, but for her. Watching her like that makes me want to smack Braydon just for existing and being…him.
“Hi, Braydon,” She says in an unusually tiny voice. “I’m Katy’s friend…and debate president. Really,
it’s…wow, nice of you to drop by.”
Braydon nods, holding out his hand. She freezes, clearly unsure if it’s meant for her but she takes it
anyway.
“I had fun watching,” Braydon says. “You’ve got something good going on here.”
Lucy’s eyes go wide, and I know she’s about to explode. “I–I mean…yeah! Totally! I also have fun
watching your hockey games. I–uh…I even have your poster in my dorm! And the hoodie from your
fan club! And, and–I bought the signed puck from last season!”
I groan internally, covering my face with one hand. Oh my God. Please, Lucy, no.
Braydon raises an eyebrow, obviously entertained. “Wow. I didn’t realize I had a fan club.”
Lucy bounces a little on her heels. “You do! I’m literally the president of it. Well, unofficially…but, you know, I’m the most dedicated!” She beams at him, her fangirl energy radiating like she’s about to
faint.
I step back, wishing the floor would swallow me whole. This is so embarrassing.
“Will you come to watch often?” she blurts out, almost squealing.
“Yes-” he starts.
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“No-“I cut in, my death glare aimed directly at him. “He’s usually busy with hockey.”
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He smirks, his eyes twinkling like he knows exactly what he’s doing. “I’ll be here as much as I can.”
I bite back a growl. Is he doing this just to annoy me? Because it’s working perfectly.
Lucy practically hugs him, then adjusts her hair shyly. “I’ll see you soon, then!” she says, still glowing.
“Sure,” Braydon responds, and turns to me. “Baby, ready to go?”
Baby? My brain freezes and I glare at him. Has he lost his mind?
“Let’s go,” I snap.
Like he hasn’t done enough, he extends his hand to me. I look at it, then at his smug face, then
back at his hand. Yep. He’s officially lost his mind.
Still, I have a fake relationship to maintain, so I take it. Together, we start walking through the hall, and of course, people are staring and whispering. And because it’s Braydon, he decides now is the perfect moment to reach down and pick an invisible speck of dirt from my hair.
Yup, because I’m very sure nothing’s there.
Once we’re out of the building, I swat his hand away.
“Hey,” he protests, looking around. “People might be watching. You want to ruin everything?”
I spin to face him with my hands on my hips. “Since when are you suddenly so invested in this
whole thing?”
“Since forever,” he says casually. “The future of my GPA depends on it.”
I roll my eyes. As if. Something’s definitely going on with him, and I need to figure it out before my
brain fries.
“Why did you come here?” I ask. “And you didn’t even text me.”
“Must I?”
“Yes.” I whisper. “How else am I supposed to prepare myself?”
He smirks, stepping closer until that annoyingly good Braydon scent fills my nostrils. “Are you saying I make you flustered, Peach?”
I scoff, crossing my arms. “Flustered my foot. It’s embarrassing when everyone’s staring at you.
Seriously, I don’t even get it.”
And yeah… maybe there are moments like when he kissed me last night, or when he leaned in too
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close in the library where I feel the pull and heat. But then reality snaps back, and he’s just Braydon.
Just Braydon.
He leans down like he’s going to kiss me again and I don’t jerk back this time, because apparently my brain is out to lunch. “Weren’t you flustered when I came in? You kind of…stammeredorsomething.”
I poke his forehead with my finger. “I was surprised, okay? But sorry to disappoint, yourwholemak
egirlsswoon act doesn’t work on me.”
I start to walk away, only for him to fall in step beside me. “Not at all?”
What is wrong with him today?
“Not at all.” I respond.
“Even when we kiss?”
I pause, shooting him a glare. “No. Maybe we have sexual chemistry like you said, but you don’t make my stomach flutter or whatever.”
He studies me for a long beat, those damn green eyes unreadable and then, he nods. “Catch you
later.”
He turnsandwalks away, but even without seeing his face, I can tell his shoulder is stiff, like he’s pissed or maybe just…being dramatic. But why would he care that I don’t get flustered?
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