The Hockey Star’s Remorse

Chapter 53

I stood just inside my apartment, my hand gripping the doorknob tightly as I watched Timothy and Linda in the hallway. It was like I was frozen in place, unable to tear my eyes away from the scene unfolding before me.

“Were you waiting this whole time?” Timothy asked Linda, his lips in a flat line.

My heart sank as Linda responded, her voice light and flirtatious, “Well, hello to you too, handsome.”

“Sorry, I’m just really distracted right now,” Timothy replied, his eyes briefly flickering to my apartment door. My heart thumped rapidly, and I feared he noticed the small sliver where my eye was looking right back at him.

He wouldn’t have had time to investigate either way since Linda was leaning closer to him. “Oh, never mind that. What do you need, sweetie?”

I clenched my jaw, feeling a pang of jealousy and anger rising within me. Linda was being far too familiar with Timothy, and it was clear that she was trying to distract him from whatever business he had that was probably way more important than her.

“I need someone to take care of Duke for me,” Timothy said. “I’m going to be out all of tomorrow, so I need someone to walk and feed him.”

Linda’s eyes lit up with a mischievous glint, and she leaned even closer, practically. batting her eyelashes at him. “Oh, don’t worry about a thing. I’d be happy to take care of Duke for you.”

She placed a hand on his arm and gave his bicep a squeeze. She was shamelessly flirting with Timothy, but the expression on his face remained neutral. It was like. he didn’t even notice, or worse, he didn’t care.

Perhaps she was getting fazed out sooner than expected.

“And I can take care of you too while you recover,” she continued, her words. dripping with innuendo. “You shouldn’t even be up after what you went through.”

“I have help,” said Timothy, and he took her hand away from his arm. Instead of cupping it in his own, he let it fall back at her side. From there, he kept the conversation focused on his dog, completely indifferent to Linda’s blatant

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Chapter 53

flirtation.

O

If he wasn’t interested in her, then why was he spending time with her? As Linda continued to flirt, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness. Was I just like her him–a casual fling to pass the time? Had I waited too long to see him?

Before I could dwell on my thoughts any longer, I decided it was time to retreat. I didn’t want to be caught eavesdropping

on their conversation. It was clear that there was more to their relationship than I knew, and I didn’t want to intrude any further.

I took Linda’s phone and tossed it through the crack between the door and its frame. It slid across the floor, and I hoped that it would like she’d just dropped it.

As I closed my apartment door, I tried to shake off the hurt and confusion. Whatever was going on between Timothy and Linda should have been none of

of my business. That didn’t stop my heart from hurting

however.

Back in my apartment, I slumped onto the couch, replaying the scene in my mind. It was evident that my feelings for Timothy hadn’t faded, despite my attempts to move on. Seeing him with Linda stirred up a storm of emotions I couldn’t control.

think Timothy had changed. I had wanted him to be a different person, but I

something for him, of trying to be a friend while my heart. yearned for more, was too painful to bear. I couldn’t pretend to

give myself the space and time. to heal. Making a cake for Timothy would only fuel

pulled it out

got off work.

energy to sit out and eat, I

in the apartment for the rest of the night. I typed my

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Chapter 35

Just let me

n

the Thai place down the street. She had only been there once, but I took her word for it when she

was already at the podium speaking to a waitress when I arrived. Right

waitress as

“Follow me, please.”

red glow with accents of gold from the hanging lanterns above. The aroma

waitress sat down our menus. After telling

menu, her eyes trained on me as she grinned. I lifted an eyebrow, slightly concerned about what she was prepared to

at the spa today,” she

foot scrub on someone’s face again?” I asked, lifting my

I guess

my purse on

crying. about her break up with some guy he could barely remember. While I knew she was a romantic at heart, I wished she didn’t just snatch any guy that tossed his

excitement in my voice. “Did you guys

talk?”

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Clupter 53

told me how lucky he felt to meet me, especially since

that?” I muttered, letting the menu slip from my fingers and slap against the table. With it out of my face, I saw the brief flash of hurt on

“I

and slid down in her seat, sulking.

getting out there!” I added, but she was already dismsissing herself form the conversation

name is Helen, and I will be your server for the night! Can I get you ladies. something

menu and twisted her lips. “I think I’ll just get

I told Helen. “And no appetizers for

the tablet and have us a short

I had a really crappy day. I

off. “I just thought he was cute.

I pressed. “You shouldn’t settle for less, especially when there’s someone out there

menu and started flipping through it. I sighed and picked my menu back

saw Timothy with another woman today,” I confessed, my

lifted them to finally meet

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