The Hockey Star’s Remorse

Chapter 55
As I approached my apartment, I was surprised to see Timothy standing there.
His face lit up when he saw me, and I couldn't help but smile back, despite the
Linda issue.
“Hey, Evie! It's been a while. How are you?” he asked warmly.
I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to respond. I wasn't ready to be honest
with Timothy, but I didn’t want to seem distant either.
“I've been okay,” I finally replied, trying to sound casual. “Just been busy with
work and stuff.”
Timothy studied my face for a moment. “Are you sure you're okay?" he asked,
concern in his eyes.
I nodded quickly. “Yeah, yeah, I'm fne,” I assured him. “Just in a bit of a rush
right. now, that's all.”
He didn’t seem fully convinced, but he let the subject drop for the moment.
As much as I tried to resist, curiosity got the better of me. “I didn’t know you had
a dog,” I blurted out, feeling a little embarrassed after.
He smiled, seemingly delighted by this insight. “Yeah, I got Duke a few months.
ago. He's been a great companion, especially during my recovery,” he explained,
his eyes lighting up with affection as he talked about his furry friend.
“Well, if you have a few minutes, you should come over and see Duke,” he said
brightly.
“I'd love to meet him,” I replied, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension. I
knew spending more time with Timothy might stir up emotions I wasn't ready to
confront, but I couldn't resist the opportunity to see Duke.
“Cool! Follow me.” Timothy said, gesturing toward his apartment door. “He’s a big
sweetheart, I promise.”
I followed him to his apartment, my heart beating a little faster with each step.
Once we reached his door, he unlocked it and motioned for me to enter first.
As I stepped inside, a wave of familiarity washed over me. Timothy's apartment
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Chapter 53
was cozy and well-decorated, with a touch of his personality evident in every
corner. I noticed a few hockey-related items scattered around, a testament to his
passion for the sport.
“Duke! Come here, buddy,” Timothy called out, and a few seconds later, a golden
retriever came bounding over to us. He was a handsome dog with a friendly
demeanor, and his wagging tail instantly made me smile.
“This is Duke,” Timothy said proudly, patting the dog's head. “Duke, this is Evie.”
Duke gave me an inquisitive look, then nudged his head against my hand,
seeking some affection. I happily obliged, scratching behind his ears as he
wagged his tail even more vigorously.
“He seems to like you,” Timothy observed with a grin. “You're a natural with
dogs.”
I chuckled, enjoying the interaction with Duke. “I've always loved dogs,” I
admitted. “They're such loyal and loving creatures.”
“Yeah, they really are,” Timothy agreed, looking fondly at his furry companion.
“Duke’s been a good pal, haven't you, boy?”
“Yeah, he’s a sweet boy,” I replied, scratching under Duke's chin as he barked.
proudly. “I'm surprised you didn’t mention him before.”
Timothy chuckled. “Yeah, I guess I didn't bring him up. He's special to me, so I
don't really let too many people know about him.”
“Except Linda...” I blurted out. Timothy's eyebrows rose and I clamped my
mouth. shut, hoping I hadn't overstepped my bounds.
Instead of discomfort, he merely grinned and shook his head. “Uh, Linda's...
fine,” he replied, looking a bit awkward. “Duke seems way fonder of you though.”
That was odd considering she'd been around Duke more often than me,
assuming she went over to Timothy's that frequently. Still, I nodded, not wanting
to pry too much into his personal life. But the unease lingered, especially since I
had plans to meet Linda later.
“I've been a bit moody lately,” I admitted, deciding to steer the conversation away
from Linda. “I split up with Lucas.”
Timothy didn’t react at first. Only when he turned his attention away from Duke to
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Chapter 55
look me in the eyes did I catch a flash of guilt in his expression. He frowned and
ducked his head.
“Oh, really? I'm so sorry,” he said, although his tone comically lacked any
genuine sincerity.
“It was so sudden. I don't really know what happened,” I continued, egging him
on. “One moment we're enjoying coffee, then the next he tells me it's not working
out.
Timothy's expression turned serious. “You two seemed so close. Man...”
“Yeah.” I pouted my lips.
His face hardened, and I could tell he was holding something back. “Well, I
might've punched him at the club,” he confessed, looking a bit guilty himself.
My eyes widened in shock. “You what?” I exclaimed, trying to sound angry, but
unable to hide my amusement.
Timothy sighed and fiddled with his shirt sleeve. “I got a bit carried away,” he
admitted. “But don’t worry, I'll talk to him and apologize.”
I grimaced. “Oh, no. You're not getting off that easily,” I said sternly.
Timothy's expression shifted to something more fearful. “I know. I really screwed
up.”
do
“Why would you it?”
“I saw him dancing with some other guy at the club, and I just lost it. I know it was
wrong, and I feel bad about it, but he shouldn't do that to you,” Timothy
explained.
I pretended to be angry, crossing my arms and giving him a disapproving look.
“You can't go around punching people, Timothy! No matter what the reason is,
that's not how you handle things,” I scolded, trying my best to sound convincing.
Actually, hearing the words come out of his mouth left me feeling the opposite.
So he really had wanted to protect me, although I wish he hadn't punched my
friend. Of course, he didn’t know that my relationship with Lucas was platonic.
He sighed and nodded again. “You're right. I let my emotions get the best of me. I
should have handled it differently,” he acknowledged. “Is there anything I can do
to make it up to you?”
in
Chapter 55
I softened my tone a little, trying to be understanding. “It's good that you're willing
to apologize, but please, be careful with your temper. You don’t want to end up
causing more trouble for yourself,” I advised.
Timothy looked contrite. “You're right, Evie. I need to work on controlling my
emotions better,” he said, remorse in his eyes.
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I reached out and placed a reassuring
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hand on his shoulder. “I Re
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been He of nately) ahd'it's
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But remember, I'm here for you if you
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need someone to talk to,” I offered.
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Read the latest chapter there!
He gave me a small smile, appreciating the support. “Thank you. I'm lucky to
have a friend like you,” he said sincerely.
Just him calling me a “friend” left me feeling slightly weightless. Part of me
wanted to tell him how I truly felt, to admit that I still cared deeply for him, but I
held back.
Instead, I redirected the conversation back to the topic of Lucas. “And you'll be
making it up to US. You're going to make amends with Lucas, and by that I mean
you're going to show him a good time,” I told him.
Timothy seemed less pleased with that suggestion. His eyebrows creased and
he started rubbing absently at Duke's belly. “Oh.”
Feeling a sense of relief, I smiled at him. “Good. I know you'll do the right thing,” I
said, genuinely believing in him.
As much as I wanted to break character and console him, I knew that sticking to
the plan was essential. “This Saturday,” I said firmly. “You'll meet with him
Saturday and make things right.”
Timothy looked at me, his eyes filled with a mixture of sorrow and gratitude. “All
right. I'll open up my schedule.”
My heart wavered at his sincerity, but I kept up the act. “Don’t thank me yet,” I
said, trying to sound stern. “Apologizing is just the first step.”
He nodded firmly. “I'll do whatever it takes to make things right, Evie. I promise.”
I couldn't help but smile at how determined he look.
After spending I eventually excused myself, citing a prior
Some time with ..
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Chapter 35
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commitment. As I left Timothy's
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apartment, I couldn't help but feel
conflicted. Part of\e @pntedd
spend Mofe time with him, to explore
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this “friendship” business, but
another part of me knew I had to be
careful not to get too attached. The
content is on Novelxo.org! Read
the latest chapter there!
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Walking back to my own apartment, I
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couldn't shake the feeling of
uncertainty. I knew I fone fo sort
throug myemetions Gad igure out
what I'truly wanted before things
became even more complicated. The
ball was in my court, and I needed to
make a decision, no matter how
difficult it might be. The content is on
Novelxo.org! Read the latest
chapter there!
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