Faking It With The Hockey Star

Chapter 11: Allowance Included

Haper’s POV

I barely slept. Every time I closed my eyes, another problem found its way into my dreams. My mother’s surgery. The equipment deposit. Losing my job. The fake dating contract.

By the time my alarm rang the next morning, it felt like I hadn’t rested at all. I lay in bed for several seconds, staring at the ceiling while the weight of yesterday settled over me all over again. For one brief moment, I wondered if any of it had actually happened. Then I remembered the hospital. The contract. The anonymous payment. And the email demanding a deposit I couldn’t possibly afford.

Reality hit me like a freight train.

A ringtone broke the silence. Justin.

I answered after the second ring. "Morning."

His voice sounded annoyingly awake. "You sound cheerful."

"I’ve had coffee."

"I haven’t."

"I can tell. you sound cute and grumpy"

Despite myself, the corner of my mouth lifted. "What are you doing?" I asked.

"Getting ready to rescue your documentary."

I rolled my eyes. "You really enjoy sounding dramatic."

"I enjoy being dramatic baby, just for you baby."

I laughed quietly. "Your revised contract is ready."

My smile faded. "So soon?"

"I was up late making changes."

Something about that sentence made me pause. "You actually stayed up working on it?"

"I told you I’d fix it." His tone was so matter-of-fact that it caught me off guard. "I’ll pick you up in thirty minutes."

"You don’t have to."

"I know."

"Justin."

"I’ll be there in thirty. Stop arguing Haper"

Before I could argue again, he hung up. I stared at my phone. The man had a frustrating habit of ending conversations whenever he thought he’d won.

Exactly thirty minutes later, a familiar black SUV pulled up outside my apartment building. I took my backpack from the couch, shut the door and I climbed into the passenger seat.

"You know," I said as I buckled my seatbelt, "I’m starting to wonder whether you’re still a student."

He looked at me in mock offense. "I’ll have you know I am still a student and i attend class."

"Occasionally?"

"Very funny."

"So when exactly do you study between being the hockey captain, everyone’s favorite campus celebrity, and apparently my personal chauffeur?"

"I have classes at three." He pulled away from the curb. "Practice starts at six."

I nodded. "And after practice?"

"We’re going to the hospital."

I turned to look at him. "You don’t have to keep doing that."

"Doing what?"

"Visiting my mum."

He kept his eyes on the road. "Relax, Brooks. I’m not after a participation trophy."

"Our dating arrangement is fake."

"Tell that to the three hundred thousand people who watched me kiss you."

"No one’s expecting you to keep showing up."

"Good. I hate disappointing people who expect things from me."

I frowned. "Then why are you?"

A small smile appeared on his face. "I don’t have much else to do."

"Liar."

He chuckled but didn’t deny it.

The drive to campus passed more comfortably than I expected. It was strange. A week ago, sitting alone in a car with Justin Hayes would’ve been one of the last places I imagined myself. Now it somehow felt easy. Dangerously easy.

When we reached campus, he parked in his usual space. Before either of us got out, he reached into the glove compartment and pulled out a neat stack of papers. "The updated contract."

I accepted it and quickly flipped through the pages. Most of it looked the same. Public appearances. Media rules. Social events. Confidentiality. One or two additional clauses. Nothing alarming. At least not on a quick read.

"You actually printed another copy."

"I don’t do things halfway."

I smiled faintly. "I’ve noticed."

I picked up the pen resting on the center console. This time, my hand didn’t hesitate. I signed my name. Justin took the papers back and signed beneath mine before carefully sliding one copy into a folder.

He looked over at me and smiled. "Congratulations."

I raised an eyebrow. "For what?"

"My girlfriend."

I groaned. "Fake girlfriend."

"My fake girlfriend."

"That’s better."

He climbed out of the vehicle. I followed a second later, adjusting my backpack over my shoulder. Students were already beginning to fill the parking lot. A few recognized Justin immediately. Others recognized me. Whispers started almost instantly. I tried not to pay attention.

Justin locked the SUV before casually falling into step beside me. "Good."

I frowned. "Good what?"

He looked completely serious. "Now you’re eligible."

"For?"

He looked at me as though the answer were obvious. "Your girlfriend allowance."

I stopped walking. "What?"

He continued a few more steps before realizing I wasn’t following. Turning back, he found me staring at him.

"I’m sorry..." I blinked. "I thought I misheard you."

"You didn’t."

"That wasn’t in the contract."

"It is now."

My eyes widened. "You added it?"

"I told you I made adjustments."

I immediately shook my head. "No."

"No?"

"I don’t want your money."

"It’s not my money."

I stared at him.

He shrugged. "It’s your salary."

"My... what?"

"For being my girlfriend."

I looked around to make sure nobody else was hearing this conversation. "Justin, absolutely not."

"Why?"

"Because I’m not taking money from you."

"You already signed."

"I signed before I saw that."

"You had every opportunity to read it."

"You distracted me."

"I did no such thing."

"You absolutely did."

He looked far too pleased with himself.

"I don’t need an allowance."

His expression softened. "Harper."

"No."

"You lost your job, and I also deposited the money in your account."

Every bit of color drained from my face. The words hit me like a slap. I stared at him. My heartbeat quickened.

I had never told him. Not properly. The call had happened yesterday, while he was standing beside me, but I’d never explained anything. Never mentioned being fired.

Slowly, I looked up at him. "How..."

My voice came out barely above a whisper.

"How do you know that? And how the hell did you get my account details?"