Fake Dating Alpha Hockey Captain Riley Above Story

Chapter 28

“…I don’t like that he belittled me jussst now,” Cynthia says softly. “He doesssn’t do that. So, I’m not sure why he would today.”

Her assertion that I wouldn’t belittle her makes me happy and stabs me in the chest. She sees me kindly, if not a bit annoying. But I’ve never talked down about her like that before.

“What he did wasn’t right. I’m sure you’re a great actor.”

…Thank you.”

“I think, perhaps, he’s just gotten jealous and lashed out. He used to always do that when we were younger, too, lil brat.”

It frustrates me that I can hear the smile in Mikey’s voice. Crossing my arms, I grumble under my breath.

“Jealous? Why?”

“Well, maybe it has something to do with me. He’s a chatterbox, so I know he’s starting to feel some kind of way when he goes quiet. Still, he could do better.”

“Hmmh…don’t know what he’s jealousss about.”

“Maybe because I’m having such a good conversation with you?” Mikey presents, definitely teasing me..

I feel tempted to kick the wall slightly as a way of telling him to quit it, but…

“I don’t sss-see why that’d make him jealous.”

“Well, you’re his girlfriend. You must be really important to him.”

“Hah.”

She doesn’t say anything to deny it, but that short laugh might as well have been a full sentence doing exactly that. It makes me feel even more s hitty than I already did…but I brought it on myself.

Didn’t she notice how worried I was after her run-in with a car? I think she realized I was trying to cheer her up. I’ve shown her I care a lot, so, the fact she’d deny it

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like that…

Maybe I’ve not been doing it the right way or something. Like, in my efforts to not send mixed signals, maybe the lines crossed anyway somewhere. I don’t know.

All I know is that I’m feeling like s hit.

“Hey, c’mon. He’s got youngest kid syndrome. Tell you what. If he apologizes immediately once he gets back, let’s chalk it up to him being jealous over something. Okay?”

“…If you sssay so.”

…Alright. Good. There’s at least a way to somewhat fix this.

I decide to go into the bathroom so I can think of the best way to apologize.

When I do get back, the food’s been delivered, and they’ve started eating. I stay standing, not sitting down yet.

“…I said a sh itty thing just now. I’m very sorry, Cynthia.”

She cuts into her powered sugar-topped pancakes, mixing them with maple syrup and bacon before eating it. Cynthia chews slowly, then finally looks at me.

“…Okay.”

“I am seriously, so sorry. If you’re not an actor, then I’m not a hockey captain.”

She stares at me for a moment before sighing and nodding her head toward my empty seat in the booth. Permission to sit, then.

“Aww, look at my little bro, growing up right in front of me,” Mikey teases, putting a slice of his smoked ham on my plate. A reward and peace offering.

“Shush,” I grumble. “…Sorry for acting out.”

And then I stuff the smoked ham slice in my mouth.

It’s really juicy…delicious.

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I never got the chance to ask Mikey what he’s doing in town, but it’s too late for me. to try to hold him up. It’s dark out by the time we leave the diner and part ways, my brother saying he’ll catch me later.

After the apology, Cynthia slowly opened back up to me. Eventually, she told me to stop apologizing after we got in the car.

I ́still feel bad about what I did, though. Yeah, I was jealous, but that was no reason to take it out on her. Just cause she and my brother hit it off.

Would I have reacted that way with any other girl meeting him?

… Maybe, if I liked her. And I do like Cynthia a lot. Although she doesn’t seem to know it, she’s really fun to tease and just talk with, too.

She’s also not afraid to call me out when I do something wrong, nor does she seem to drool over me either. Though she needs support, it’s understandable with everything she’s gone through. I may not know all the details, but seeing and hearing what Oliver said to her, I knew it was more than I’d probably ever know.

Still, she’s grown so much stronger with just the bit of support I give her. Even now, she gives me that small smile as she talks about the main character from the movie we watched. Her eyes seem brighter nowadays, and the smell of lilac petals. has been getting stronger over time.

It’s like she’s the flower itself, blooming after however long she’s been getting beaten down.

I’m so caught up on her scent that it’s almost startlingly off-putting when I open my door to let her out of hers and I smell something foul.

It’s like blood, but if you left it out for a few days. Like trash, but crusted in the sun. Like a river without good filtration, murky and unsuitable for swimming.

The woods near her house haven’t smelt like this before… So, someone must’ve brought that scent.

And the source of it was still around.

Acting normal, I smile as I open Cynthia’s door for her. Then, I hold out my hand. “Keys, mademoiselle.”

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“Okay…but how do you get it here?”

“Eh, I get some help, don’t worry ’bout it. But of course, I’m not trusting anyone else with your car.”

…You betterrr not.”

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She drops her car keys into my hand, then sighs.

“Tonight…has ss been very fun. Thank you.”

My heart starts speeding up. I mean, I’ve always liked compliments, but hearing them from her is different.

“No prob, Cynth. I’ll drop your car off, but you don’t have to wait for me.”

“Alright.” She looks down to the ground, then looks back up at me from under her bangs. “Have a good night.”

Then, she starts walking to her house, but I follow her. With that strange smell’s source still hanging around, I don’t want too much distance between us. Cynthia glances at me, but her ears just turn a bit red and she doesn’t say anything.

I only head back to my car after she’s in the door and we’ve said our goodbyes again.

Once my back’s turned to her, the smile drops off my face.

I get into my car and start driving, but I don’t actually leave the area. Instead, I park my car around a corner, out of the way so Cynthia doesn’t notice I haven’t really left. I’d pulled this trick the first night we met, running back to Gunther’s and getting her car.

This won’t be all that different. Though, I take a detour into the woods.

It doesn’t take me long to find the source of the smell.

A man stands amongst the trees in ragged clothes. His hair looks wiry and unwashed, and he certainly smells that way.

I know he’s aware of my presence, but he doesn’t even give me a glance. Instead, he keeps his eyes trained on the house not too far away.

Cynthia’s house.

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“… Did you have fun on your outing with the monkey, puppy?” he croaked, starting

to smile.

“Hah. Call her a monkey all you want. At least she showers, unlike someone.”

“It’s so easy to hurt them, you know. Give them a few scratches, and they bleed out. Like tomatoes.”

The hair along my neck tingles with the urge to rise. But I’m not in the right form to do that.

I hear a slight cracking noise. It’s uncomfortable and somewhat wet.

“I mean, hit, bite, or stab us in the right place, and we bleed out, too.” I flash my teeth at him with a grin. “If you don’t want to know what that feels like, I suggest you head back to your trash heap. Or whatever you call a den.”

“A little puppy who hasn’t even awakened his nose to meet his mate wants to fight?”

The gross man finally turns toward me, showing that his other eye has already been taken over by the transformation, his iris bright yellow as his grin extends back toward his cheek.

“What kind of person would I be to resist?”

“A decent one, maybe,” I reply flatly, kicking my shoes off.

…Hah. Cynthia’s occasional snark is rubbing off on me.

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