The Hockey Star’s Remorse

Chapter 31

That night had turned into an unexpected celebration at the local bar. It was the nicest one in town, at least in terms of cleanliness. We figured we’d invite Lucas out as well, and he swiftly accepted the offer.

We had ordered a few rounds of every drink on the specials menu and downed them with reckless abandon. By the third, I’d already grown dizzy and had to drop out of the challenge. Lucas and Aria persisted, chugging down their margaritas before slamming down their glasses.

“You’ve gone soft, Evie!” Lucas drawled, and he threw his head back with laughter. “Aria, you can actually keep up.”

“As if I’m going to be outdone by you. This was my town first, newbie!” Aria spouted defiantly. A waitress passed and Aria called to her, motioning for her to approach before ordering their next set of drinks.

“Leave me out. I’m quitting,” I mumbled. It was difficult to keep my head up as it rolled back and forth. Too much weight in one direction meant losing my balance completely. The two of them booed me and I waved them off.

It felt nice to let loose for the night. The nerves had been tearing me apart recently, and I could feel the extra stress causing some pain in my gut. If I kept it up, I’d end up passing out from exhaustion.

The waitress finally came by with their next set of drinks. After counting down, Aria and Lucas raced to finish them.

As I watched in amusement, my phone began to buzz against my hip. Wearily, It took it out and checked the screen. It wasn’t from Bruce, but who it was instead didn’t make me feel any better.

I excused myself from the table and made my way to the ladies‘ room on the other end of the bar. My nose twitched at the fresh scent of bile and stale food as I shuffled into one of the stalls. I answered the call, bracing myself for what he’d have to say.

“Mr. Fitzgerald.” I tried to keep my voice as steady as possible, still feeling lucid from the drinks. “How may I help you?”

“This is my last warning,” he blurted out, not bothering with the pleasantries. “If

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Chapter 31

you don’t drop the case now, there is no turning back.”

“You have very weird timing,” I grumbled, leaning against the wall for support. “But I’ll humor you. We’ll be proceeding with the case as planned.”

end on the matter.

I was.

and he let out a long sigh. “I will see you in

giggle slipped from my lips. “All right then. Bring

were far less restrained, carrying the weight of an intense hatred. “Laugh now, Ms. Sinclair. You’ll need the confidence boost

speechless in the

I had

my e

to wonder how much good it would do in the aftermath. If he really was the most

pounding headache. My temples were buzzing as I rolled out of bed and stood on my aching feet. Our time at the bar had been at nice shift from all the drama with Timothy’s case, but that

washing up and getting dressed, I made my way to the kitchen and found Aria seated at the breakfast bar with a bowl of yogurt. Her free hand was fixed to the laptop in front of her as

much of an appetite, so I made myself

bunch so far,” said

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20

Chapter 31

I scoffed. “Standards?”

think should be more lenient when it

of color that turned my stomach whenever I even guessed the origin. While it wasn’t as suffocating as it had been prior to us adding some life to it, it

Aria’s face. She navigated around the website and finally found

furnished, two–story luxury apartment with an earthy

I spotted the price lingering at

almost $2,000 per month!”

we can afford,” Aria quickly added, sliding the laptop back. “We both have well–paying jobs. It doesn’t make since for us to limit

I

part of my plan. I mean,

some of my resolve slip away. If there was more protection at this place, that

side my