Faking It With The Hockey Star

Chapter 31: Unexpected Guest

Haper’s Pov

The drive started exactly the way I’d expected.

Justin had music playing softly through the speakers, one hand resting lazily on the steering wheel while the other occasionally tapped against his thigh in rhythm. It almost felt normal.

I glanced sideways. He caught me looking.

"What?" he asked.

"Nothing."

One corner of his mouth lifted. "You’ve been staring at me since we left your house."

"I have not."

"You have."

"I was admiring the scenery."

He looked out the windshield dramatically. "Interesting. Last time I checked, I wasn’t the scenery."

I laughed. "I wasn’t looking at you."

"Liar."

"I’m serious."

"So what was so fascinating?"

I looked him up and down deliberately. "The suit."

"My suit?"

"It looks expensive."

He gasped. "I spent an hour getting ready and all you compliment is my suit?"

"I mean..." I tilted my head thoughtfully. "It does most of the work."

He shook his head. "I was hoping you’d compliment my face."

"I didn’t want your ego getting any bigger."

"My ego?" He placed a hand over his chest. "I am deeply offended."

"Good."

"You know, I can still turn this truck around."

"Oh, please."

"You think I’m joking?"

"I know you’re joking."

He chuckled and looked back at the road.

For a few more minutes we talked about everything and nothing. The ridiculous amount of makeup Daniel’s team had somehow managed to put on me. How Noah had almost hugged Justin to death over the hockey jersey. How Mom had nearly cried herself dehydrated standing in the living room. The conversation came easily, comfortably, the way it always did when neither of us was trying.

Then something changed.

I noticed it the moment we turned through tall black gates into an upscale neighborhood where the houses grew bigger and the roads became quieter and even the trees looked professionally maintained. Justin stopped talking. His smile disappeared. He tightened both hands around the steering wheel and without realizing it had also slowed the truck.

I frowned. "You okay?"

"Yeah." The answer came too quickly.

I watched him for another minute. He hadn’t looked at me once since we’d entered the estate. The playful guy who’d been teasing me five minutes ago had simply vanished, replaced by someone tenser, quieter, like a person bracing for something they’d done before and still hadn’t figured out how to make easier.

The truck finally rolled to a stop in front of a house that barely looked real.

House wasn’t even the right word. Mansion. Warm lights glowed behind enormous windows. Luxury cars lined the driveway. The front entrance alone was probably bigger than our entire living room combined.

I stared. "Justin."

"Yeah?"

"You live here?"

"For now." He switched off the engine.

Neither of us moved. The silence stretched between us before he finally let out a long, tired sigh.

"I’m going to ask you something," he said quietly.

I turned toward him.

"No matter what happens in there, don’t let them get under your skin."

I blinked. "What?"

"I’m serious. They’re my family." A bitter laugh escaped him. "They know exactly where to hit."

The words caught me off guard. This wasn’t the confident Justin Hayes everyone on campus knew. This was someone tired. Someone who had been carrying something heavy for a long time and had simply gotten good at hiding it.

"I’ve gotten used to it," he continued. "But you haven’t."

I reached over without thinking and rested my hand on his arm. "Justin."

He shook his head. "Promise me."

"I..."

"Please." His voice cracked just enough for me to catch it. "Promise me you won’t let anything they say get to you."

I searched his face. There was genuine worry there, not for himself, but for me.

"I promise," I said.

He finally nodded. "Thank you."

Neither of us reached for the door. Instead, Justin leaned back against his seat.

"You hungry?"

I laughed softly. "Is that your way of changing the subject?"

"Maybe."

"I’m okay."

"We can still drive somewhere. Grab burgers, seriously."

"I thought this was dinner."

"It is." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I’m just not sure either of us will actually feel like eating once we’re inside."

I smiled. "I’ll survive."

He studied me for a second. "You sure?"

"Justin."

"Hm?"

"I’m a first daughter. I’ve survived worse."

That earned me a small smile. "There she is."

"What?"

"The girl who keeps pretending she’s tougher than she is."

"I am tough."

"I know." His expression softened. "But you don’t always have to be."

My heart squeezed. Maybe because he looked so unguarded right now. Maybe because he’d listened every single time I’d needed him to.

"Justin."

He looked over immediately. "What is it?"

"My dad messaged me today."

Every trace of warmth disappeared from his face. "What?"

"He found me."

"How?"

"I don’t know." His jaw tightened. "Ethan," he said, more to himself than to me. I nodded slowly. "It has to be because of the post."

"What did he say?"

"I didn’t open the messages. They’re still sitting in my Facebook requests."

His shoulders relaxed a fraction. "He hasn’t contacted Emma or Noah?"

"Not that I know of."

"Thank God." He ran both hands through his hair. "I swear I’m going to make Ethan regret the day he was born."

I reached over and lightly squeezed his hand. "Forget Ethan. You’ve got enough to deal with tonight."

He let out a slow breath. "Yeah."

For a long moment, neither of us spoke.

Then he climbed out of the truck. I followed. The cool evening air hit my face immediately. Justin walked around the front until he stood beside me, and without saying anything he reached for my hand. His fingers laced through mine, warm and steady and more comforting than I wanted to admit.

He looked at the front door, then back at me. "One last time."

I smiled. "I already promised."

"I know." He swallowed. "I just don’t want them hurting you because of me."

I squeezed his hand. "They won’t."

He managed a small smile. "I hope you’re right."

Together, we walked toward the front door. Before we could knock, it swung open and a burst of laughter spilled out from somewhere deep inside the house. I barely had time to take in the grand staircase, the sparkling chandelier, and the elegant dining room visible beyond the entrance hall before my eyes landed on a familiar face.

Blonde hair. Perfect makeup. A smug smile I recognized immediately.

Vanessa.

The girl who had wrapped herself around Justin in the parking lot. She looked up. Saw me. And smiled even wider.

Every muscle in my body went rigid. I turned slowly to Justin.

"What the hell is she doing here?"