FAKE DATE WITH THE HOCKEY CHAMPION

ANNA'S POV

It was a Friday. Elijah would have to stay back in school for hockey practice. It was undoubtedly my favorite day of the week. I got to watch him practice.

I jerked up, realizing I would be late if I didn't hurry. He would abandon me with the excuse that I was too slow. I needed to match his pace.

I dashed into the shower, brushed my teeth, and dashed downstairs with my backpack hung on my back.

I saw him standing by the kitchen counter with peanut butter on his left hand. He was talking to my mom, who was having her morning coffee. I wondered what they were talking about.

I hesitated, wondering if he was telling her about what had happened last night, or if she had noticed I had been gone. I took in a deep breath.

"Good morning, guys," I said with a tight face, tossing my bag on the table.

They both looked at me, their eyes running down my body. Then their eyes locked, with an accompanying nod.

"You see what I was talking about, Penny? Just look at her," Elijah said suddenly, pointing at me while I stood there clueless. My mother looked at me in a manner that seemed loving but disappointed.

"Honey, you don't have to wear a yellow shirt to match your yellow hair clip. You're no longer in high school," my mom said softly, under her breath, with a smile.

I was right. They were talking about me, but now my mom was taking his side. Whatever I chose to wear was my choice. It was colorful and I loved it. Why was it a big deal to them?

"You'll have to take the bus. I have a place to be before classes," Elijah said to me with a frown, but I wasn't stupid. I knew it was because of what had happened last night. Of course he wouldn't want me riding with him. I had embarrassed him—his words, not mine.

"No, she won't!" Marcus, my stepdad, said, walking down the stairs. He always had my back, even in times when my mom took Elijah's side.

"Why should she take the bus when you have a car, Elijah?" he snapped, his tone on the rise.

Elijah was silent, his lips trembling, a fist clenched at his side. But I didn't care. I just wanted to ride with him to school. He didn't have to speak to me.

"I have somewhere to be. I need to get Cathy before riding to school. You could have the chauffeur drop her off at school."

"You prefer a chauffeur taking her to school over you?" Marcus asked, his tone falling this time, his eyes awakened.

Elijah looked at me, his eyes bloody. I bet he wished I had never come into the picture, but unfortunately he couldn't disrespect Marcus by leaving me behind.

The worst he could do was leave while I ate or say he had hockey morning skate, but those lies were overused. There was no way Marcus would believe that again.

"Hey, Step-dad," I greeted.

Marcus smiled at me, moving away from Elijah. He didn't like it when I called him stepdad, but he knew I was toying with him.

"Hey, Step-daughter," he said, planting a kiss on my forehead.

"You look like you had a good night's rest for hours," Marcus said further, his brows raised. He knew I had been out. But he wouldn't say anything. My mom would snap if she found out I had sneaked out.

"Honey, I need you. Could you excuse me for a second?" Marcus said to my mom, taking her out of the kitchen.

Now I was left alone with Elijah. My breath steepened. I could feel his dead stare crawl up my neck. My heart raced, scared that he would confront me about last night.

I needed to apologize for putting him in that position. But I was the one who had been humiliated. I could swear he would never apologize to me.

And now he had to wait for me. I was a slow eater, so he had to wait. It made me feel slightly better. It was a good punishment for how he had treated me.

Elijah turned to look at me. He didn't need words. I knew I was pissing him off with how slow I ate, but I didn't flinch. Marcus was home, so I didn't have to worry.

He picked up his hockey gear angrily and was about to storm off. He had waited just twenty minutes and he was already irritated. His temper was one of the things I found intriguing about him.

He would stomp his feet violently when angry, his forehead folding into freckles, and his lips always made a pout.

"Where are my damn keys?" he said, searching the room with his eyes.

"I put them right here. Where are they?" he said, looking straight at me with a scorch.

"I don't have them," I lied. I had hidden his car key under the table mat. I knew he was going to abandon me again, so I had taken action.

"Find your way to school. I'm out of here," he said, picking up the key from where I had hidden it. I had to abandon my food and go with him.

"Mom, Marcus, I'm off!" I said loudly as I picked up my bag and ran after him.

I stood in front of the door, my feet on the foot-mat that read "Welcome Home," trying to organize my books in my bag.

We heard a loud honk of a car right outside the house, by the curb, under the oak tree. We both turned around to see where it had come from.

It was Connor. He had come to pick me up for school. I missed a step in shock and almost tripped.

Oh my God! He meant it—everything he had said. A smile escaped my lips. I had never imagined him coming here to pick me up.

I saw Elijah's eyes. They went flat. I didn't know what he thought of it, but I knew for sure he didn't like this.

Connor honked again. That was my cue that he was waiting for me.

I walked past Elijah and gave him a single wave before walking toward the car to join Connor. I knew he was enjoying the view of Elijah's anger.