The Hockey Star’s Remorse

Chapter 95

Aria paced around my room, her eyes darting left and right. It was if she had succumbed to mania upon hearing Bruce on the other end, a voice she had never had the misfortune of hearing until then.

“I’ll decide on the location,” Bruce said finally, and I could hear the delight in his gravelly voice. “There’s not backing out now, so you’d better show that pretty little face of yours.”

I cringed as he let out a rough laugh, pleased with himself. It dawned on me that I was choosing to be in his presence once more, inhaling his stale scent and taking in that eerie smirk of his. This would have to be the last time, because his very existence was like a tricky shadow casting itself over my existence.

“All right then,” I said, my voice clipped. I hung up before he could answer, but kept the phone pressed to my ear. My fingers trembled against my clammy, numbed skin.

When I tucked the phone away, Aria eventually stopped and plopped herself down beside me. She

leaned in close, then pulled the phone away from my ear with a surprising amount of effort. I eventually came down from my state of shock and my grip on the phone loosened, allowing her to take it away.

“It’ll be okay,” she cooed, chucking the phone away. Even with it at a distance, I could still hear Bruce’s grimey voice coming through the receiver. “We’re going to put that bastard behind bars.”

“We’d better,” I said, wrapping my arms around my torso. “I already screwed him over before, so this could turn deadly if we’re not careful.”

“Deadly?” Aria scrunched up her face, but then the realization slowly took over. She nodded, then hesitated to say the name, as if it were forbidden, “From when…. When Timothy got stabbed.”

I slumped my shoulders, still feeling the awkwardness of our last discussion. Telling Aria about my history with Timothy was something I never thought I’d have to do. Of course, I was foolish to believe that since most secrets don’t stay kept for long.

12:27 Fri, 22 Mar

Chapter 95

Still, here she was offering to assist me after I had lied to her for a good portion of our relationship. I wasn’t even sure how she felt about Timothy at this point, having been a dedicated fan of his for so long. I don’t want to know if it was the lie that crushed her or the destruction of her fantasies.

“You can say his name, you know,” I said quietly, giving her shoulder a nudge. “It’s not that serious.”

“Stop, Evie,” said Aria coolly. “Just the thought of him recording you like that makes my skin crawl. Ugh, and to think I had a bunch of posters of him in my

room.

“Have,” I corrected, lifting an eyebrow. “I know you’re hiding them in your closet.”

“I was trying to be a loyal friend,” she stated firmly with a fire in her eyes. “You know what? I’m throwing them away.”

I almost choked at that. “A–Aria! You don’t need to do all of that.”

to do this.” She was already making her way to her room. “Our friendship matters more

her room for all evidence of Timothy merchandise, I

point, and I’d argue that she was more determined than I was to erase his existence. I had let him in after what he’d done,

I was weak from the start? Even without the sex tape, how much was going to truly change between us? It seemed like the men in my

and he’d moved on to more deadly measures. Even my boss was adding himself into the line of men

and smiles that we’ve shared, I could only believe that

out, a bunch of rolled up posters tucked

2/5

Chapter 95

hastily stuffing each one in

head, already hearing the hysterics to come. “You’re going to hate yourself in a week,” I said,

off of her hands and grunted. “Maybe. But at least I can’t salvage them

is

right as the doorbell went off,

aside the shoes that we’d lazily kicked off at the door before opening it. When

moved to slam the door before Timothy stuck his

to see you,”

meeting my gaze from across the room. “Evie, it’s important.

good

told her, and she shot me a look. She waited for me to change my mind, but I stayed firm in my position. Eventually, she gave in and

a few steps away, looking more disheveled than before. There were dark circles beneath his eyes and his clothes were barely clinging onto his

trained on me with a certain intensity. I looked away, finding the attention overwhelming. “What did you

his hands. “I need to make things right. Let me

bitterly, anger boiling to the surface. “Help me?

12:27 Fri, 22 Mar

Chapter 95

Timothy?”

I never meant for that video to hurt you. I only showed it to one person, and I never expected him to spread

finger at him. “You think that’s an excuse? You think a half-

eyes darted to the side and I realized that Aria

it doesn’t,” he continued, “I know I can’t make it right, but I

help, Timothy. I’ve managed to keep my life together despite what you did. I

Bruce. He knew. A shiver ran down my spine, and I could feel the past closing in

his voice desperate, “I need to know the truth. Is Bruce involved in

clenched my fists, torn between wanting to confide in Timothy and wanting to push him away. “Don’t pry,