Desired By The Hockey Captain Alpha

8. This Is Just Business

Emily

Class finally ends and I swear I have never been so conflicted in my life.

Usually I’m counting down the minutes to freedom. Today I low-key want the professor to keep talking about patient care plans forever because the moment I step out of this building, I officially start my new job.

Fake girlfriend. Assistant. Massage therapist apparently.

Goodness.

The nursing department is loud as usual. Students everywhere in scrubs, some arguing about assignments, some rushing to clinical rotations, phones ringing at the admin desk, instructors calling out names. The place smells like coffee, sanitizer, and stress. It’s chaotic but familiar. Safe. Nobody here expects me to hold hands with a six foot something hockey god in public.

I sling my bag over my shoulder and start walking toward the exit.

“Em. Wait up.”

I pause mid step and turn around.

There she is.

Nicole is literally jogging toward me in high heel boots. Her hair is bouncing, her bag swinging, and she looks way too excited for a normal human being.

“Nicole,” I say as she finally reaches me. “What are you doing here?”

She beams. “I’ve been done with classes for like an hour. I said why not escort my bestie to her first day of fake dating duty.”

I snort. “I’m not a kid. I can handle it.”

“You sure?” She raises one perfectly shaped brow and folds her arms dramatically.

I laugh despite myself. “Yes. I’m sure.”

We start walking down the hallway together, blending into the crowd of stressed out future nurses. Nicole keeps stealing side glances at me like she’s studying my face for cracks.

“So,” she says, dragging out the word dramatically. “You’re actually going to fake date him.”

I hum casually even though my stomach does a weird flip just hearing it out loud. “I could use the money. You know. For Grandpa.”

The second I say that, the joke tone drops a little.

She nods, softer now. “Yeah. I know.”

We push through the main doors and step outside into the afternoon air. Students are scattered across campus, laughing, walking in groups, living normal lives that do not involve pretending to be someone’s girlfriend for five grand a month.

Nicole suddenly nudges me with her elbow. “Still. I have a feeling you two are going to fall in love.”

I nearly trip over my own foot. “Excuse me?”

“I’m serious,” she says, grinning like a fool. “The tension is already there. I can tell.”

I roll my eyes.“Please. This is f*****g business.”

“Mm hmm.” She makes a face like she doesn’t believe a single word coming out of my mouth. “You keep telling yourself that.”

I shake my head, but I can feel heat creeping up my neck because unfortunately she is not entirely wrong.

“It’s temporary,” I say firmly. “He needs help. I need money. End of story.”

Nicole laughs loudly. “That’s how all dangerous love stories start.”

“Stop watching so many dramas.”

“I don’t need dramas. I have you.”

I push her lightly. “You are so dramatic.”

“And you are in denial,” she shoots back instantly.

I try to scoff it off, but my mind flashes to the way Damien’s eyes darkened when he looked at me in that dress. The way his voice dropped when he said welcome girlfriend. The way my stupid heart reacted like it didn’t get the memo that this is fake.

I shove the thought away.

This is about Grandpa.

This is about survival.

Not about falling for some rich, intimidating hockey captain who probably thinks he can control everything.

Right?

God, I hope so.

We finally reach the hockey rink and my stomach immediately tightens.

The place is freezing. Like actually freezing. The second we step inside, cold air slaps me in the face and I instantly regret dressing cute instead of warm. The sound hits next. Skates slicing across ice. Pucks smashing against the boards. Guys yelling plays at each other like their lives depend on it.

A few players are already on the ice running drills. Fast, aggressive, and focused.

This is my first time ever coming to their practice.

Which is insane considering I dated Jack for two years.

I went to one game. One. And even then I sat in the bleachers with my anatomy textbook open, highlighting notes while the crowd screamed like the building was on fire. I barely looked up unless people stood and blocked my view.

Thinking about it now, maybe I should have paid more attention.

But thank God I did not.

Look how that bastard turned out.

I shove my hands into my coat pockets and scan the rink, pretending I am not specifically searching for one tall, arrogant, annoyingly attractive guy.

Nicole leans toward me like she can hear my thoughts. “He’s not here yet.”

I blink. “What?”

“Damien. He’s not here.”

I check my phone. “Wow. He told me to come by 4. It’s ten minutes past 4 and he’s not here.”

I glance around again. “I don’t see that bastard either.”

“Who? Jack?” Nicole asks.

I nod.

She shrugs. “Damien will come. Relax. You have his number, right? Call him.”

I suddenly find the ice very fascinating. “Uhhmmm… no.”

Nicole slowly turns her head toward me. “You don’t have his number?”

“I’ll just wait,” I say quickly, like that makes sense.

She squints at me. “Emily. You have to stop being shy. You’re literally going to be working together….as a couple.”

“I’m not shy,” I defend myself immediately.

She gives me a look that screams liar.

“Okay,” she says. “Sure.”

I roll my eyes.

“Since Mr. Captain America is late,” she continues, grabbing my arm and pulling me closer to the glass, “let me educate you.”

She points subtly toward the ice.

“Tall one on defense. That’s Ethan Cole. Damien’s best friend. Defenseman. Loyal. Grounded. Disciplined. If this team had a stability pillar, it’s him. He probably color codes his closet.”

Ethan moves smoothly across the ice, steady and controlled, correcting someone’s positioning without even raising his voice.

Nicole tilts her head. “If Damien ever spirals, that’s the one who drags him back.”

She shifts her gaze. “The one who looks like he’s arguing with the universe? Ryan Milton. Winger. Extremely talented. Also extremely opinionated. Thinks he deserves more say.”

Ryan fires a puck into the net with unnecessary force.

Nicole smirks. "Be careful with him.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re about to become part of Captain Starboy’s inner circle and Ryan doesn't like Damien.”

Fantastic. Love a workplace enemy.

She nods toward another player running intense drills. “Marcus Reed. Defenseman. Obedient. Quiet. Scary competitive. He values winning over literally everything. Friendship. Feelings. Morals. If winning required emotional damage, he would consider it.”

Marcus skates like he’s chasing a championship right this second.

“And finally,” Nicole says, lowering her voice dramatically, “Tyler Brooks.”

I already feel irritated.

“Winger. Joined hockey for vibes. Jack’s best friend. Professional idiot.”

I snort. “Yeah, I know him. Jack’s friend. I’ve never really liked him.”

Tyler is currently laughing at something probably stupid.

Nicole nods approvingly. “Good. Your instincts work.”

She waves her hand vaguely at the rest of the team skating around. “The rest are not that important. Background characters. Forget them.”

I laugh. “You are so unserious.”

We stand there for a second, watching them run drills, and I turn to her. “How do you even know all this? Do you come to their practices or something?”

Nicole scoffs. “Please. I have better things to do.”

“Then how?”

She flips her hair over her shoulder. “I investigated.”

“You what?”

“I investigated,” she repeats proudly. “i********:. Old team interviews. Campus gossip. A little strategic eavesdropping. People talk a lot when they think no one’s listening.”

I stare at her. “You are insane.”

“I prefer prepared.”

I shake my head, then something clicks. “Wait. Do they know you’re related to Damien?”

“Only Ethan,” she says casually

I glance back at the ice. “And Damien. Does he know you’re my roommate?”

Nicole blinks.

Then she suddenly frowns. “Look who’s here.”

I follow her gaze.

Jack is walking in through the side entrance, hockey bag slung over his shoulder, water bottle in hand. Same confident stride. Same stupidly attractive face. Same guy I once thought I loved.

My heart clenches hard.

The memory hits instantly. Him on top of that girl. Her hands in his hair. The sound of them.

I thought I was over him.

Apparently not.

Because seeing him right now makes my blood f*****g boil.

“Oh damn,” Nicole mutters. “He’s seen you.”

I look up.

Jack is staring straight at me.

“What the f**k… Emily.”

His voice carries enough that a few of the guys glance over.

He walks toward us, drops his bag near the bench, and stops a few feet away like I’m some random inconvenience.

“What are you doing here?” he asks, brows raised.

I cross my arms before I even think about it.

He lets out a short laugh. “Let me guess. You here to beg me to take you back?”