The Hockey Star’s Remorse

hapter 41

My heart pounded in my chest as I stood face to face with Timothy. Confusion didn’t begin to express how I felt.

“What are you doing here?” I gasped, looking him up and down

The smile on Timothy’s face fell as he took a deep breath before answering, “I live here too. In fact, I’m the owner of all the property on this floor.”

My mind raced to connect the dots. Timothy lived here of all places? Sure, the place was nice, but I never would have guessed.

Then suddenly, the realization hit me like a ton of bricks. I was already aware that Aria and Timothy had orchestrated this entire setup. However, they had completely left out the part where it was Timothy that had cheapened the price.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked, my voice cracking.

Timothy looked at me with the utmost sincerity in his eyes. “I knew you wouldn’t have taken this chance if you’d known it was connected to me. I wanted to give you the freedom to make your own choices without feeling weird about it.”

His explanation left me feeling a whirlwind of emotions. I was caught between feeling gratitude and guilt, even if I had unknowingly fallen for his and Aria’s

scheme.

“It’s not much of a choice without knowing all the options,” I muttered. “You may not have lied, but you weren’t completely honest either.”

This seemed to draw him into silence at first, and he looked down at his shoes. My situation had been desperate enough not to think twice about the price drop. either. Perhaps this was my karma for not being more strategic, as if things. couldn’t get any worse.

“You didn’t have to do this,” I murmured, still trying to process it all.

“I wanted to,” Timothy replied, his gaze unwavering. “That apartment was doing. you guys any good, I heard.”

That sentence made me pause and look back at Aria, who was still swaying to the slow song on the stereo. I bit my lip, wondering if Aria had told Timothy about Bruce breaking in. Just the possibility of that made me more frustrated than

Chapter 41

having Timothy as a neighbor.

“I promise not to disturb you though,” Timothy added. “I just want you to be comfortable.”

I sighed and tugged a strand of hair behind my ears, suddenly feeling more exposed than ever. We were going to have to see each other on a more consistent basis, but Timothy seemed determined to get me a new place to live. So much so that he was willing to go behind my back for it.

of the question, and Timothy seemed genuine enough.

restaurant.

cake?” I asked him, pointing my thumb behind

returned to Timothy’s face

smiled back. “Just

I saw Lucas waltz by with a bottle in hand. He approached Timothy and

his neck.

it!” Lucas exclaimed. “How’s it feel to

man?”

winced and turned his head away, probably smelling the alcohol in Lucas‘

join?” asked Lucas. “We’ve

Cake too!”

it on a paper plate. Then I set down the knife and rushed over. Timothy was trying to detach himself from Lucas right as I placed myself between them and handed Timothy

I wasn’t certain about my own answer. I don’t know if it was any fairer for me to

input.

A

Chapter 41

through the doorframe, holding the plate close to his chest. He gave me

I need to get some work done tonight anyway. Glad

feeling guilty once again as I watched him retreat into his apartment. It could’ve been

Timothy’s door and re–invite

take it

playful voice behind me. I found myself being towered over by a man in a hockey uniform. He had fiery red

most famous hockey

the presence of yet another hockey

away from him. “No,

“You don’t need to explain yourself. Are you one of

cracked over the words.

this whole fanbase, but you’d think they were married to the guy with how dedicated they are

fall into parasocial relationships,” I told Alex. “They seem very unpredictable, and I’m not exactly a Timothy fan. At least, not to

side and narrowed his eyes. He

news.