The Hockey Star’s Remorse

Chapter 11

Evie

I was horrified. He had gotten himself a private investigator to find me. There was no other plausible reason for him to know where I was in the first place.

“Answer the question, Mister Hayes,” I order, my tone becoming icy.

He continues fumbling over his words. “I- I can explain.”

That was all the confirmation I needed.

“Well, then. Please go ahead and explain yourself. I’m dying to hear what excuse you have in your incredibly expensive–looking suit jacket you have on,” I scoff.

He shakes his head, laughing tiredly.

“You practically vanished overnight,” he says defensively. “You didn’t text. You didn’t call. Hell, Evie. You had every reason to come and yell at me for what I did. But you just left. And no one in your family knew a thing. They didn’t even care. All of your stuff was just tossed on the front lawn.”

“I didn’t want to see you,” I explain flatly.

“I get that,” he says. “But seeing you the other night at the restaurant and bumping into you after the game, I had to set things right.”

“To make yourself feel better,” I laugh bitterly. “I’m not mad. I should’ve known better. You didn’t hide the fact that you were involved with other girls.”

“I wasn’t,” he says firmly. “I cut it all off before I even started talking to you. I wanted things with us to be different. I thought you were inexperienced.”

Fury burns through my veins now.

“You wanted things to be different, Timothy,” I ask, my voice shaking from pure unadulterated rage. “Did you really? Is that why you made that bet? I was just that special?”

“Evie,” he says, guilt filling his eyes again. “I didn’t-

“No,” I say sharply. Inhaling deeply, I start gathering my things. The workday wast

A

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Chapter 11

over at this point. I could call it quits and Mister Erickson wouldn’t mind. “I think this conversation is over. And I don’t know. I might not even take the case. I don’t care if I’m thrown out of this firm.”

was frozen. The space goes silent between us. It stretches on for what

you to even hear me out,” he says finally. “Whatever you decide,

Timothy

look at me so softly had become dangerously frosty. Why did I have

want it.

and still am, ruined

myself up for a personal record. I am angry enough that I know I would pull through. Sitting down in the machine, I

eyes, letting the weight bear down on my legs before pushing it back up into resting position. About halfway through my set, my headphones are ripped from my head. I

she asks sharply.

annoyed by the interruption to my therapeutic workout session. “Hello, Stell,” I sigh, performing another leg press. Maybe she would get too distracted to remember why

question,” she snaps

huff, locking up the machine so that I could get

screams, stomping her foot like a child denied a piece

Stamping? Get a

20

Chapter 11

she fumes, pulling down the bottom of her skin–tight

is there to understand, Stella,” I scoff. “I said

lunges at me, pushing me back into

hisses, flashing me her phone

get off me,” I say tiredly. “I’m

“Her?”

I growl.

says sharply. “I

say, smirking slightly for

disgust evident on her face. “For your sake, I hope not. The girl is a walking

I intended. Stella goes still for a second.

one shoulder. “You know I’m going

laugh. “Don’t lie

pretend you like someone else to make me like you, Timothy,” she says, folding her arms across her chest. I know my dad is still putting you through the ringer, but since you got the best captain thing, he

will never be together,” I snort, hopping back off the leg press and heading to leave. “Stop trying to make happen. It’s not going

is

tilts, almost unnaturally.

say, grabbing my

really

became untouchable for the rest of the league,” she sighs. “I mean, this club can make or