Faking It With The Hockey Star

Chapter 55: The Perfect Gift

Harper’s POV

Mason disappeared into the crowd after one last wave. Ava watched him go before sighing dreamily. "I swear that man gets more handsome every week," she said clearly eying her retreating boyrfreind.

Mia rolled her eyes. "You’re disgusting."

"I’m in love," Ava replied.

"You’re dramatic."

"I’m both."

I laughed, shaking my head. "You two are impossible."

"We’re adorable," Ava corrected. "There’s a difference."

I smiled, but my thoughts weren’t really on them anymore. They were on Justin. On the way he’d looked at me in the camera store yesterday. On the way he’d stood between me and his father without hesitating. On the way he’d listened to me ramble about cameras for nearly an hour as though every word coming out of my mouth mattered.

Without thinking, I blurted out, "I want to buy him something."

Both girls stopped walking. Ava slowly turned toward me. "I’m sorry," she said, "what did you just say?"

"I want to get Justin a gift," I said, laughing awkwardly.

Ava grabbed both my hands. "Mia."

Mia looked up. "I heard."

"No, did you hear hear?"

"I did," Mia said. A slow smile spread across her face. "That’s actually really sweet."

I shrugged, suddenly feeling embarrassed. "He’s always buying things. Helping my family. Doing thoughtful things." I looked down at my shoes. "I just want to do something for him too I don’t want it to be a one way thing between us, I want to reciprocate too, show him that I appericiate him."

Ava’s expression softened immediately. "Oh, Harper." Before I could react, she pulled me into a quick hug. "He’s going to cry," she said.

"He is not," I replied.

"He absolutely is."

Mia laughed. "I’ve never seen Justin cry."

"Exactly," Ava said. "So this will be his first time."

I burst out laughing. "You two are ridiculous."

"We’re right," Ava said, looping her arm through mine. "Come on. We’re shopping."

..

The mall suddenly became ten times more fun. Every store turned into another brainstorming session.

"What about a watch?" Ava suggested scanning the row of expensive watches in the display case.

I looked at the price tag. "I would have to sell one of my kidneys."

"Fair," she said.

"What about cologne?" Mia asked.

"I don’t even know what he wears," I said. "And if I buy the wrong one, he will smell like an old billionaire."

Ava nodded seriously. "That’s a valid concern."

I laughed so hard I had to grab Mia’s shoulder. "I hate both of you."

"No, you don’t," Ava said.

"No," I admitted. "I really don’t."

They weren’t just helping me shop anymore. Somewhere along the way, they’d started feeling like real friends.

..

We wandered into a custom printing store. Immediately, Ava snapped her fingers. "I have an idea," she said.

"Oh no," I replied clearly sensing the direction this was going.

"This one’s actually good," she said.

Mia nodded. "It is."

I looked between them. "I’m scared."

"You should be excited," Ava said, dragging me toward the display counter. "What does Justin always have with him?"

"His phone," I said.

"And?"

"His hockey gear."

She pointed at me triumphantly. "Exactly."

The employee smiled. "Can I help you?"

"I want to customize a phone case," I said, glancing at the display samples. "And maybe a hockey jersey."

The employee’s smile widened. "We can absolutely do both." She laid out different templates across the counter. "You can choose the colors, the lettering, the logo, the number. Everything."

I picked up one of the sample jerseys. "What number does Justin wear?" Ava asked.

"Nineteen," I said, the answer leaving my mouth before I even thought about it.

Both girls slowly looked at me. "What?" I said.

"You answered that awfully fast," Mia said.

I groaned. "I’ve filmed enough practices to remember."

"Mmm-hmm," they said together.

"I have," I insisted.

"Mmm-hmm."

I threw another napkin at Ava. She laughed so hard she nearly fell over.

...

The next stop was an electronics store. Rows and rows of cameras lined the shelves. For a second I remembered yesterday. Justin standing beside me, pretending he understood everything I was saying, listening anyway. My chest warmed.

Then I spotted it. A tiny instant camera. White. Compact. Cute enough to fit inside a backpack. I picked it up.

The sales assistant smiled. "That’s one of our best sellers. It connects to your phone through Bluetooth. You can print photos instantly or keep digital copies."

I imagined Justin carrying it around campus. Taking photos of his teammates. Of his grandparents. Of us looking so adorable. A smile spread across my face. "I think I found it," I said.

Ava peeked over my shoulder. "Oh. That’s perfect."

Mia nodded. "It actually feels like something eh would like."

I looked down at the little camera again. The custom jersey. The personalized phone case. The instant camera. It was not extravagant or ridiculously expensive. Just a little thoughtful present. Exactly the kind of gifts I would want someone to buy for me.

I smiled to myself and made a menmtal not on how I want it packaged, I couldn’t wait to see his reaction.

My phone vibrated inside my bag. I reached for it absentmindedly, expecting another university notification or messages from the family group chat. Or maybe Justin. The smile was still on my face as I unlocked the screen.

Until I saw the sender.

Unknown Number.

My stomach tightened. I already knew before I even opened it.

Slowly, I tapped the message.

I came to the house that day and didn’t see you. You went out with your rich boyfriend, right? Don’t think I don’t see what you’re doing. You and your mother think you can ignore me. You’re wrong.

My fingers went numb around the phone. The laughter around me, the music playing through the speakers, the chatter from shoppers walking past, it all disappeared. There was only the screen in front of me.

And one question echoing over and over inside my head.

Why can’t this man just leave me alone?