Faking It With The Hockey Star

Chapter 54: Girls Day

Harper’s POV

"You know," Ava said, taking another sip of her iced caramel latte before narrowing her eyes at me, "I’ve been thinking."

I looked up from my cappuccino. "That usually means trouble."

"It absolutely does," Mia deadpanned. I had convinced them to hange out today with me, at least, as a thank you for all the help they have been giving to me.

Ava ignored her. "How have we spent almost an entire semester in the same department and we’re only becoming friends now?"

I laughed. "That’s actually a good question."

"It is." She pointed at me with her straw. "You always disappeared. The second class ended, poof. Gone."

Mia nodded. "Same after outdoor shoots. You packed your camera, you packed your bag, and you vanished."

I rubbed the back of my neck. "Life was complicated," I said, searching for the right word.

The two of them exchanged a knowing look. "I guess that’s one way to put it," Mia said quietly.

"I honestly didn’t know everything you’d been through," Ava admitted. "I just thought you were one of those mysterious girls who hated people."

I laughed. "I don’t hate people."

"You definitely looked like you did," she said.

"I was just busy. Between school, my mom, my siblings, and trying to survive, I didn’t really have time to make friends."

Ava’s smile softened. "Mason told me."

"Told you what?"

"About your biological parents. I didn’t understand everything before, but after he explained it," she reached across the table and squeezed my hand, "it made sense."

I smiled gratefully. "Thanks."

Mia shrugged. "Life happens. No point judging people when you don’t know the whole story."

"I appreciate that," I said.

Ava suddenly gasped. "Oh my God."

"What?"

"We’re having an emotional moment." She reached across and stole one of my fries. "We need to ruin it."

I stared at her. "Did you just rob me?"

"I sure did," she said cheerfully.

I grabbed the paper napkin beside my plate and threw it at her. It landed squarely on her forehead. She squealed. Mia burst into laughter. "You deserved that," Mia said.

"I absolutely did," Ava agreed, completely unbothered.

..

An hour later, the conversation had moved from assignments to professors to which lecturer secretly hated giving A’s.

"So," I said, setting down my cup, "how did you and Mason meet?"

Ava immediately pointed at Mia. "Her fault."

"My fault?" Mia blinked.

"Your fault," Ava confirmed.

I looked between them. "I’m missing several Chapters."

Mia smiled. "I reconnected with my biological family last year. They organized this huge family dinner. My aunt invited a bunch of family friends. Mason happened to be one of them."

"Mia dragged me along because she didn’t want to go alone," Ava added.

"I was moral support," Mia said.

"You were emotional support," Ava corrected.

"I was hungry," Mia replied.

"That too," Ava agreed.

We all laughed. "Mason and I started talking," Ava continued. "Turns out we went to the same university. We just never crossed paths. So we kept talking. And now?" She smiled without even trying to hide it. "Now he’s my boyfriend."

I rested my chin on my hand. "That’s actually adorable."

"I know," she grinned proudly. "I tell him that every day."

I looked at Mia. "And you?"

She shrugged. "I recently got out of a relationship. So I’m taking a break. No dating, no situationships, no emotionally unavailable men."

Ava raised her coffee. "Cheers to that."

We clinked our cups together.

After leaving the café, we wandered through a small shopping center nearby. Mostly window shopping, occasionally trying things on just for fun. Ava held up an oversized sunhat. "Be honest," she said. "Do I look rich?"

Mia looked at her once. "No."

Ava gasped dramatically. "You’re supposed to support women’s delusions."

"I support reality," Mia replied.

I laughed so hard I nearly dropped the dress I was holding. "You two are ridiculous," I said.

"We’re hilarious," Ava replied.

"I’ll admit, you are," I said.

Ava suddenly hooked her arm through mine. "So," she said, drawing the word out slowly.

Here we go.

"How serious are you and Justin?"

I nearly choked. "What?"

"You heard me," she said. "Spill."

Mia smirked. "We’ve been waiting."

I looked away. "I don’t know."

Ava stared. "You don’t know?"

"We’re pretty serious," I said, searching for the words.

"Oh?"

"I’ve met his parents," I said. Both girls froze. "His grandparents too," I added quietly.

Ava’s mouth fell open. "His grandparents?"

I nodded. "It just happened."

The two of them looked at each other before bursting into identical squeals. "Oh my God!" "I knew it!" "I told you!"

I covered my face. "Can you two not?"

"No," Ava said. "Absolutely not." She grabbed my shoulders. "Harper. I’ve known who Justin dates. I’ve seen the girls on Instagram. They’re pretty. They’re influencers. They’re models. But," she smiled softly, "I’ve never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you."

Mia nodded. "It’s actually disgusting."

"It is," Ava agreed. "His eyes literally follow you. Even when you’re talking to someone else. It’s like he forgets other people exist."

Heat crept into my cheeks. "You’re exaggerating."

"We’re really not," they said together.

Before I could argue, someone called out behind us. "Babe."

Ava turned immediately. "Mason!"

He walked over carrying a small shopping bag. "You forgot this in my car," he said.

She groaned. "I knew I left it somewhere." She stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. "Thank you."

He smiled before noticing me. "Hey. My best friend’s girl."

I laughed. "Hi."

Ava immediately pointed at him. "Perfect timing."

He looked suspicious. "Why?"

"Tell Harper," she said.

"Tell her what?"

"How much Justin likes her."

He sighed dramatically. "I knew this was a trap."

"It is," she confirmed. "Answer the question."

Mason looked at me for a moment before shoving his hands into his pockets. "I’ve known Justin since we were kids," he said. I listened quietly. "He’s always liked girls." Ava coughed into her fist. Mason ignored her. "He dates. He flirts. He moves on. That’s just who he used to be." Then his expression became serious. "But this one," he looked me straight in the eyes, "this one? He loves."

Everything around me seemed to disappear. The chatter. The music from nearby stores. Even the people walking past us. I just stared at him.

Mason continued quietly. "He told every guy on the team to look out for you. If anybody messes with you, they’re supposed to step in. And if they end up in trouble because of it," he shrugged, "he said he’d deal with the consequences."

Ava smiled. "He literally called you his girl in the team group chat."

Mason chuckled. "He did. And trust me, I’ve never heard Justin talk about anyone like that before."

I couldn’t find a single word to say. Because for the first time, I realized maybe everyone else had figured out how much Justin loved me long before I had.