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.

wanted him to be a

thought of baking 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 be okay with just being his confidante,

myself the space and time. to heal. Making a cake for Timothy would only fuel the fire of my emotions, and I couldn’t let that

chimed and I pulled it out

texted, Just got off work. Wanna

to sit out

rest of the night. I typed

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Chapter 35

said, Sure. Just let me

n

been there once, but I took her word for it when she praised

podium speaking to a waitress when I arrived. Right as she saw me, she gestured for me to

of you?” asked the waitress as

“Follow me, please.”

the woman as she led us to a booth in the middle of the room. The place had a subtle red glow with accents of gold from the hanging lanterns above. The aroma of spices hung in the air along with the soft

sat across from each other and the waitress sat down our menus. After telling us another waitress would come by to take our orders, she hurried along back

bother looking at her menu, her eyes trained on me as she grinned. I lifted an eyebrow, slightly concerned about what she was prepared to say. She had made a habit of surprising me the past couple

happened at the spa today,” she began, her bright cheeks. shining

foot scrub on someone’s face again?”

I guess the treatment was so good that he decided

my purse on

grip tightened on the menu. It seemed like only yesterday, Aria was 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

I said, forcing some excitement in my voice. “Did you guys

talk?”

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we came here, yes!” she said chipperly. “He told me how lucky he felt to meet me, especially since he didn’t come across too many

and slap against the table. With it out of my face, I saw the brief flash of hurt on Aria’s face. I

quickly. “I didn’t meant it

her arms over her chest and slid down in her

but she was already dismsissing herself form the conversation right as a waitress approached our table. She took out a tablet and began tapping on

I will be your server for the night! Can I get you ladies. something to drink in the

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

I told Helen. “And

and have us a short nod. “I’ll be right back with your

to pleading to Aria. “Look, I had

Aria said, waving it off. “I just thought he was cute. I’m not looking for

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

she turned back to her menu and started flipping through it. I sighed and picked my

with another woman today,” I confessed, my

she lifted them to finally meet mine.

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