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.

Timothy had changed. I had wanted him to be a different person, but I was left with the

to make Timothy a cake crumbled. The 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, his lawyer,

the situation, to give myself the space and time. to heal. Making a

chimed and I pulled it out

Just got off

I didn’t really have the energy to sit out and

for the rest of the night. I typed

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Chapter 35

said, Sure. Just

n

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

I arrived. Right

the two of you?” asked the waitress

“Follow me, please.”

red glow with accents of gold from the hanging lanterns above. The aroma of spices hung in the air along with the soft chatter

I sat across from each other and the waitress sat down our menus. After telling us another waitress would come by

lifted an eyebrow, slightly concerned about what she was

spa today,” she began, her

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

a back rub to this one particular hottie. I guess the treatment was so good

my purse on

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 snatch any guy that tossed his number her

said, forcing some excitement in

talk?”

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Clupter 53

chipperly. “He told me how lucky he felt to meet me,

my fingers and slap against the table. With it out of

sorry,” I said quickly. “I didn’t meant

She crossed her arms over her chest and slid down in her seat,

dismsissing herself form the conversation right as a waitress approached our table. She took out a tablet

be your server for the night! Can I get you ladies. something

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

please,” I told Helen.

on the tablet and have us a short nod. “I’ll be

to Aria. “Look, I had a really

off. “I just thought he

shouldn’t settle for less, especially when there’s someone

seem convinced by my words. Avoiding my gaze, she turned back to her menu and started flipping through it. I sighed and picked my menu

I confessed,

she lifted them to finally meet mine. “What?

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