Faking It With The Hockey Star

Harper’s POV

Emma stared at me for a few seconds before slowly setting her drink back down on the table.

"What?" she asked, looking genuinely confused. "Why are you acting so shy?"

I blinked, taking a quick sip of my drink to cover my reaction. "I am not acting shy."

"You are," she pointed her fork at me accusingly. "You spend half your time sleeping over at Justin’s place. Why do you think I kept telling you to carry protection?"

My eyes widened. "Emma!"

"What?" She shrugged carelessly. "Why are you acting so innocent?"

I lowered my voice immediately, glancing around. "Keep your voice down. People can hear you."

She looked around the café before turning back to me, her eyes locked on mine. "Fine. But seriously, you have been sleeping over at his place all this time. What exactly have you two been doing?"

I stared at her across the table. "We have not had sex."

Emma froze mid movement, her mouth dropping wide open. "You are lying."

"I am not."

"You are lying."

"I am not!"

She leaned far across the table, whispering intensely. "Harper, you have spent how much time at that man’s house?"

I let out a long sigh, pressing my palm against my forehead. "I know how it sounds."

"It sounds like you two have been doing everything except the one thing."

"Emma, please."

"So?" she pressed, her eyebrows drawn together.

"We decided to wait."

Her expression shifted. "Wait?"

"Until after graduation."

She frowned softly. "Why?"

"Because we do not want anything distracting us right now," I explained gently. "We have both been under so much pressure with exams, graduation, his draft, my internship... We just decided it was better to wait until everything was over."

Emma stared at me for a long moment before shaking her head. "Girl, the waiting is the distraction."

I burst out laughing, the sudden sound drawing a glance from the next table. "No, it is not."

"It absolutely is," she insisted, a playful grin breaking through. "You cannot tell me you are sitting next to that man every night, looking at him the way you do, and neither of you is tempted."

I felt a sudden flush of heat creep into my cheeks. "Emma, stop."

"Fine, fine," she chuckled, holding her hands up in surrender.

I picked up a fry and pointed it at her threateningly. "We are waiting. That is all."

"Until when?"

I hesitated, swirling my ice around in my glass. "Well... we are planning a little trip after graduation. Immediately after."

Her grin returned with full force. "So you are going to do it on the trip?"

"For goodness’ sake, Emma!"

"What? I am just asking!"

"Stop saying things like that."

She laughed softly. "I need to know!"

"I do not know," I admitted quietly, feeling the warmth spread across my face again. "Maybe. I guess that is probably when we will finally have some quiet time together without exams or anything else hanging over our heads."

Emma leaned back, studying me softly. "You know Ethan did not wait all this time."

My smile faded for a brief second. "Yeah."

The memory resurfaced almost instantly. My first time with Ethan. The embarrassment, the physical pain, the way I had cried afterward in my car, and the lingering sense that I had made a terrible mistake with the wrong person.

"He was my first," I said quietly, looking down at my napkin. "And it was horrible."

Emma’s expression softened into total tenderness. "Yeah. I remember. You came home crying."

I nodded slowly. "I remember."

She reached across the table and squeezed my hand tightly. "I am just glad you found someone who actually loves you."

I looked up, meeting her eyes. "Justin does."

"And respects your boundaries."

"Yes," I smiled softly, feeling a quiet surge of gratitude. "He really does. He is such a gentleman."

"And you are crazy about him."

I laughed softly. "Maybe."

"Definitely."

We spent the next few minutes chatting easily about school and upcoming plans before I decided to turn the spotlight back on her. "What about you?"

"What about me?"

"Is there anybody you like?"

Emma shook her head without a second thought. "Nope."

"Seriously?"

"Seriously," she picked up another fry. "I have enough going on with my own classes. I am not looking for a relationship right now."

"Not even a little crush?"

"No."

I narrowed my eyes playfully. "You are sure?"

"I am sure."

"Okay, okay," I laughed.

She took a sip of her drink, her playful mood dropping into something more subdued. "What about that guy?"

I knew exactly who she was talking about without her having to say his name. I shook my head cleanly. "He has not messaged me."

"Really?"

"No."

She nodded slowly. "He has not messaged me either."

I frowned slightly, a weight lifting from my chest. "I just hope he has finally left us alone."

"I hope so too."

"I snapped at him pretty badly last time," I recalled softly. "And I meant every word."

"I know," Emma smiled warmly. "He deserved it."

I leaned back into the comfortable booth cushion, letting the quiet atmosphere of the café wash over me. "Maybe he finally got the message."

"Hopefully."

A peaceful silence settled between us, the kind that only comes from years of total trust and closeness. After a few moments, Emma suddenly clapped her hands together with a sharp snap.

"Okay!"

I looked at her, startled. "What?"

She stood up and grabbed her bag from the seat. "Let us go home."

"Why?"

"Because we have a graduation ceremony to prepare for," she declared, slinging her purse over her shoulder.

I laughed, sliding out of the booth after her. "Prepare for what? I am already graduating."

"You are graduating in a few days," she said firmly, pointing toward the door. "That means we have serious work to do. Hair, nails, outfits."

"Emma..."

"Nope, you are not escaping," she grabbed my arm, pulling me along toward the exit with a triumphant grin. "We are going home, and I am getting you completely ready."

I laughed as I stepped out into the afternoon air beside her. For the first time in weeks, my mind was entirely clear. I was not worrying about internships, hospital rooms, or heavy decisions. I was just happy, surrounded by the people who loved me, ready for whatever came next.

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