Fake Dating My Ex's Favourite Hockey Player - Chapter 85: Chapter 85

EMILIA
I instantly get defensive, momentarily forgetting that if this basket in the sky decides to tilt, I’ll be falling to my death. “Are you seriously trying to blame me for your mistakes?”
His lips twitch. “I wouldn’t dare. Truly.” He’s trying not to laugh, but he’s failing miserably — his shoulders are shaking, and his mouth is twitching like he’s choking on a smirk.
“Besides,” he adds, eyes dancing, “you’re the one who mocked me when the balloon lady asked if you were scared.”
“That was before the adrenaline wore off.”
He grins. “You mean when you climbed in first and said, and I quote, ‘It’s okay if you’re too scared. Not everyone’s built for conquering their fears’? That was just the adrenaline talking?”
“I’ve grown since then,” I hiss. “It was a lapse in judgement. A temporary ego high.”
“Well, colour me inspired. I’m so impressed I can barely speak,” he mocks, cupping my cheeks with that infuriatingly smug smile spreading wider. “Truly, the arc on you.”
“Does this mean we can get down now?”
“And miss the chance to watch you panic like a cat in a bathtub?” He grins. “Not a chance in hell.”
I could cry, honestly. But for some reason, my eyes stay dry. Maybe because even though I’m one strong gust of wind away from death, Liam’s annoyingly close and somehow still smells like heaven.
“You’re not a sadist, are you?”
“Usually, no. But hey, self-discovery happens every day.” Wow. Okay. Rude. He still hasn’t stopped smiling, clearly enjoying my distress way too much. I learn something new about Liam today: he is, in fact, a sadist. “You know, with this grip, if you fall, I’m coming right after you.”
“That is the least comforting thing you could possibly say right now.”
He shrugs. “Then loosen up a little.”
“Not a chance.”
“Didn’t think so.”
Eventually, when I stop panicking and actually start listening to Liam’s annoyingly calm reassurances, I realise… he might be kind of right.
The basket isn’t exactly wobbling. The ropes aren’t snapping. Statistically, this is probably safer than my last Uber ride.
And, okay — maybe this is the only time I’ll ever get to do something like this. Especially considering the way my bank account is currently side-eyeing me.
Plus, once I back away from the edge, the view is insane. I even get brave enough to snap a few pictures and send them to Tess, adding a dramatic “Goodbye, if I die, remember me hot” caption.
When I turn to show Liam my photography skills, I catch him scrolling through his own camera roll — full of newly taken, suspiciously candid shots of me.
Needless to say, I nearly launched his phone into the clouds.
But that’s behind us now. I’m back on solid ground, being dragged toward the sleek white car that I didn’t even realise he rented — honestly, at this point I might as well be a designer handbag he carries around.
The car looks like it costs more than my entire life.
I still don’t understand how Tessa wants to be this rich. Or how anyone can. Isn’t it exhausting?
Then again, I’m not really one to talk. My parents have enough money to buy a small country. And the attitude to match.
I’m excitedly buckling in, if I could, I would be swinging my legs and giggling like a little kid promised candy. It feels good be back on the ground.
“So,” I say, grinning over at him, “where to next, Mr. Calloway?”
“Take a guess, love.”
“Hm… are we getting food?”
“Nope.”
“A water park?”
“If it was two months earlier, maybe.”
“An aquarium?”
He gives me a look. “What do people even do there? Search for SpongeBob?”
My lips pull into the biggest frown I can manage. “What’s wrong with looking for SpongeBob?”
He’s fighting a smile. I can see it in the way his mouth twitches. “Nothing, if that’s your thing. I’m sure I could find you a SpongeBob centre. T-shirts. Balloons. A life-sized mascot, too. Just say the words and it’s all yours.”
“No thanks,” I say, pulling down the sun visor and flipping open the mirror. I check my reflection and, thankfully, my anxiety didn’t melt my mascara. “I’m more of a Squidward girl.”
Liam laughs, finally. “Crazy enough, that checks out.”
“And there’s nothing wrong with aquariums.”
“Sure,” he says, in the exact tone of someone who absolutely doesn’t mean it.
I give him a look. “You’re one of those people who thinks fish are boring, aren’t you?”
“I just think if I wanted to watch someone stare blankly through glass while doing nothing, I’d go visit my father.”
I snort. “Wow. Therapy is going to love that one.”
“Already paid for my next four sessions.” He flashes me a grin. “Anyway, we’re not going to the aquarium.”
“Then where?” I ask, already getting suspicious.
He taps the wheel. “You’ll see.”
Which is exactly the kind of answer that makes me want to jump out of the car. But the city lights are getting closer, and even though I’m still recovering from the whole floating in the sky with nothing but a basket and good vibes situation, I feel a flutter of excitement.
“I swear, if this is another near-death experience, I’m reporting you to HR.”
“We don’t even have HR.”
“Exactly. Suspicious.”
When he finally pulls up in front of a neon-lit building squeezed between two quiet cafés, I can’t stop the grin that spreads across my face.
“Oh, I’m going to destroy you.”
Liam scoffs. “What happened to your growth arc? No more humble pie?”
“You can just admit defeat now. It’s not unmanly. It’s pretty noble, in fact.”
“God, you really know how to talk trash for someone who still flinches when the air fryer beeps.”
We step out of the car. He waits until I’m beside him before lacing our fingers together and pressing a kiss to the back of my hand, lingering a second too long before tugging me to his side, the smile on his lips is cruel.
“Don’t go crying when you lose, alright? You brought this on yourself. I’ll give you one warm-up round, but after that, you’re on your own.”
Inside, the arcade is everything it should be — loud, bright, chaotic. Games beep and flash from every corner. There’s a faint smell of popcorn and my victory in the air. Or maybe that’s just me being delusional.
Or realising my potential as a seer.
I turn to Liam, already scanning the room for my weapon of choice. “You ready?”
“For you to embarrass yourself? Absolutely.”
Challenge accepted.