The Hockey Star’s Remorse

Chapter 55

As I approached my apartment, I was surprised to see Timothy standing there. His face lit up when he saw me, and I couldn’t help but smile back, despite the Linda issue.

“Hey, Evie! It’s been a while. How are you?” he asked warmly.

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to respond. I wasn’t ready to be honest with Timothy, but I didn’t want to seem distant either.

“I’ve been okay,” I finally replied, trying to sound casual. “Just been busy with work and stuff.”

Timothy studied my face for a moment. “Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked, concern in his eyes.

I nodded quickly. “Yeah, yeah, I’m fne,” I assured him. “Just in a bit of a rush right. now, that’s all.”

He didn’t seem fully convinced, but he let the subject drop for the moment.

As much as I tried to resist, curiosity got the better of me. “I didn’t know you had a dog,” I blurted out, feeling a little embarrassed after.

He smiled, seemingly delighted by this insight. “Yeah, I got Duke a few months. ago. He’s been a great companion, especially during my recovery,” he explained, his eyes lighting up with affection as he talked about his furry friend.

“Well, if you have a few minutes, you should come over and see Duke,” he said brightly.

“I’d love to meet him,” I replied, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension. I knew spending more time with Timothy might stir up emotions I wasn’t ready to confront, but I couldn’t resist the opportunity to see Duke.

“Cool! Follow me.” Timothy said, gesturing toward his apartment door. “He’s a big sweetheart, I promise.”

I followed him to his apartment, my heart beating a little faster with each step. Once we reached his door, he unlocked it and motioned for me to enter first.

As I stepped inside, a wave of familiarity washed over me. Timothy’s apartment

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was cozy and well–decorated, with a touch of his personality evident in every corner. I noticed a few hockey–related items scattered around, a testament to his passion for the sport.

“Duke! Come here, buddy,” Timothy called out, and a few seconds later, a golden retriever came bounding over to us. He was a handsome dog with a friendly demeanor, and his wagging tail instantly made me smile.

“This is Duke,” Timothy said proudly, patting the dog’s head. “Duke, this is Evie.”

hand, seeking some affection.

you,” Timothy observed with a grin.

always loved dogs,” I

fondly at his furry

chin

He’s special to me, so I don’t really let too many people

and I clamped my mouth. shut, hoping

head. “Uh, Linda’s… fine,” he replied, looking a bit awkward. “Duke seems way

odd considering she’d been around Duke more often than me, assuming she went over to Timothy’s that frequently. Still, I nodded, not wanting to pry too much into his personal

I admitted, deciding to steer the conversation away

he

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me in the eyes did I catch a flash of guilt in his expression.

although his tone comically lacked

sudden. I don’t really know what happened,” I continued, egging him on. “One moment

“You two seemed so close. Man…”

I pouted

something back. “Well, I might’ve punched him at the club,” he confessed, looking a bit

widened in shock. “You what?” I exclaimed, trying to

a bit carried away,” he admitted. “But

grimaced. “Oh, no. You’re not getting off that easily,”

expression shifted to something more

up.”

do

“Why would you it?”

lost it. I know it was wrong, and I feel bad about

people, Timothy! No matter what the reason is, that’s not how you handle things,” I scolded, trying my

mouth left me feeling the opposite. So he really had wanted to protect me, although I wish he hadn’t punched my friend. Of course, he didn’t know that my relationship

and nodded again. “You’re right. I let my emotions get the best of me. I should have handled it differently,” he acknowledged. “Is there anything I can

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Chapter 55

understanding. “It’s good that you’re willing to apologize, but please, be careful

Evie. I need to work on controlling my emotions better,” he