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.”

have to do this.” She was already making her way to her room. “Our friendship matters more to me than his extremely handsome

room for all evidence of

prove a 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, but part of me wondered if he’d actually

sex tape, how much was going to truly change between us? It seemed like the men in my life all acted

knew his daughter needed him. Bruce was still desperate to make my life miserable, and

all. Even with all the stories and smiles that we’ve shared, I could only

came rushing out, a bunch of rolled up posters tucked under

2/5

Chapter 95

looking me in the eye before hastily stuffing each one in and jamming them down with her foot.

come. “You’re going to hate yourself in a week,” I said, suppressing a

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

is

as the doorbell

at the door before opening it. When Timothy appeared on the

stuck his foot in the frame. “Wait

want to see you,” said

“Evie, it’s important. I swear I wouldn’t bother you

him a good amount of struggle, I

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

dark circles beneath his eyes

eyes trained on me with a certain intensity. I

to make things right. Let me help

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

12:27 Fri, 22 Mar

Chapter 95

Timothy?”

for that video to hurt you.

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

was getting fidgety now. His eyes darted to the side and I realized that Aria had slowly edged her way out of the room,

continued, “I know I can’t make it right, but I want to

“I don’t want your help, Timothy. I’ve managed to keep my life together despite what

flicker of recognition in them. Bruce. He knew. A shiver ran down my spine,

need to know the truth. Is Bruce involved in

and wanting to push him away. “Don’t pry, Timothy. Some doors are better