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.”

already making her way to her

ravaged her room for all evidence of

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

how much was going to truly change between us? It seemed

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 boss was adding himself into

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

bunch of rolled up posters tucked under

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Chapter 95

eye before hastily stuffing each one in and jamming them down

my head, already hearing the hysterics to come. “You’re going

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

is

doorbell went off, startling us

to answer, shoving aside the shoes that we’d lazily kicked off at the

slam the door before Timothy stuck his foot in the frame. “Wait a minute!” he

to

the room. “Evie, it’s important. I swear I wouldn’t bother you for any other reason,” he

him a good amount of struggle, I found myself

my mind, but I stayed firm in my position. Eventually, she gave in and stepped

were dark circles beneath his eyes and his clothes were barely clinging onto his frame. Had he lost some

for him to even react, his eyes trained on me with a certain intensity. I looked away, finding the attention overwhelming. “What did you want

to make

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

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Chapter 95

Timothy?”

step closer. “Evie, I’m so sorry. I never meant for that

that’s

to the side and I realized that Aria had slowly edged her way out of the room,

Evie, it doesn’t,” he continued, “I know I can’t make it right, but I want to try. Please, let me

your help, Timothy. I’ve managed to keep my life together despite what you did. I don’t need you involved with

saw the flicker of recognition in them. Bruce. He knew. A shiver ran down my spine, and I could feel the past

need to know the truth. Is Bruce involved in

to confide in Timothy and wanting to push him away.