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.

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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.”

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

she ravaged her room for all evidence of Timothy merchandise, I couldn’t help but

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 tried

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 life all acted the same, even

never pulled away from the booze, even when he knew his daughter needed him. Bruce was still desperate to make my life miserable, and he’d moved on to more deadly measures. Even my

smiles

a bunch of rolled up posters

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Chapter 95

stuffing each one in and jamming them down with her foot. I looked on, wondering how long until she retreated, but then she took the pitcher of old coffee and poured it

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

imaginary dust off of her hands and grunted. “Maybe. But at

is

doorbell went off, startling us both.

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

stuck his foot in the frame. “Wait a

doesn’t want to

from across the room. “Evie, it’s important. I

a good amount of

look. She waited for me to change my mind, but I stayed firm in

dark circles beneath his eyes and his clothes were

took a moment for him to even react, his eyes trained on me with a certain intensity. I looked away, finding the attention overwhelming.

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

the

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Chapter 95

Timothy?”

face contorted with guilt, and he took a step closer. “Evie, I’m so sorry. I never meant for that video to hurt you. I only showed it to one person, and I never

trembling finger at him. “You think that’s an excuse? You think

realized that Aria had slowly edged her way out of the room,

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

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

I saw the flicker of recognition in them. Bruce. He knew. A shiver ran down

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

wanting to push him away.