Page 63 of Fractured Faceoff

“Hazel,” I replied, matching her smile with one of my own. “It’s been a while.”

“Hasn’t it?” She turned to Jared, arching an eyebrow. “And you’ve brought Isla as your date? Interesting choice.”

Jared shrugged nonchalantly. “We figured we’d shake things up a bit.”

Her gaze flicked back to me, curiosity clear in her eyes. “Well, welcome to the party. Make yourselves at home.”

With that, she turned back to her conversation partner—a tall man I didn’t recognize—effectively dismissing us.

Jared leaned in closer to me as we moved away from Hazel’s group. “Don’t let her intimidate you,” he murmured. "You know how she can be."

I shot him a look that saidas if, and he chuckled softly before leading me toward anothercluster of guests.

The party carried on around us—a blur of familiar faces and new introductions—but I couldn’t shake the feeling that Hazel’s watchful eyes were on us the entire time.

Jared's hand found the small of my back, a warm and steady presence guiding me through the crowd. It was a subtle gesture, but it felt intimate, grounding me amidst the buzz of conversation and laughter.

We moved from one group to another, Jared slipping into his role with ease. His charm was effortless, a natural extension of who he was. Guests flocked to him, eager to discuss the upcoming season.

"Jared! What can we expect from the Serpents this year?" one man asked.

He grinned, that familiar twinkle in his eye. "Expect us to bring the heat. We've got a solid team, and we're ready to make some noise."

Another guest chimed in, "And what about Weston Cole? Is he as tough as they say?"

His smile didn’t falter. "Weston’s a beast on the ice. He’s got skills that are hard to match, but I’ve got a few tricks up our sleeves too. Don't worry now. We've been on our best behavior."

I watched him handle each question with smooth confidence, almost envying his ability to navigate these social waters so effortlessly. It was like watching a master at work.

A middle-aged woman approached us next, her eyes lighting up at the sight of Jared. "Jared Crowder! I’ve been following your career since you joined the league. Can’t wait to see what you do this season."

Jared chuckled warmly. "Appreciate that. We’re working hard to give you all something to cheer about."

She turned her attention to me, curiosity sparking in her gaze. "And who’s this lovely lady?"

He slipped an arm around my waist casually. "This is Isla Sawyer," he introduced smoothly, his tone carrying an unmistakable note of pride. "My girl."

I smiled politely at her, feeling a warmth spread through me at his words.

We continued mingling through the party, Jared fielding questions about everything from training regimens to team dynamics with practiced ease. He made it look so simple—like he was born for this kind of attention.

And maybe he was.

As we moved on to yet another group of guests, I found myself more relaxed than I expected. Maybe this whole fake dating thing wasn’t as bad as I’d feared—especially with Jared. Which was something I never thought I'd say.

“You ready to talk to our hosts?” Jared’s voice broke through the haze of small talk and polite laughter.

I blinked, momentarily disoriented. It was like I’d forgotten the whole point of this charade—to show Ava that we were together.

“Right,” I murmured. “I…”

The words died in my throat. I didn’t know what to say.

“We can wait,” he offered, his tone gentle, almost understanding.

“No,” I insisted, shaking my head as if to clear the fog. “I’m ready.”

He smirked, a knowing look in his eyes that both comforted and unsettled me.

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