The Hockey Star’s Remorse

Chapter 195

I watched raindrops trickle down the windowpane as I put the finishing touches on my black dress. I had switched from outfit to outfit, hoping that the next one would look more presentable than the last. Aria had been sitting on the edge of my bed, silently observing my preparations.

“So you’re really going,” she said, finally breaking the silence.

I paused, my reflection in the mirror staring back at me with vacant eyes. “I’m going,” I replied quietly.

Aria’s brow furrowed as she considered my response. “Do you think his family will be okay with you there?” Her question dripped with apprehension, although she tried to mask it.

I sighed, turning to face her. “I don’t know, Aria. But Timothy invited me personally, and I can’t refuse when he’s going through such a difficult time. We’re just friends, and friends are there for eachother, so they’ll have to deal

with it.”

“Evie, I just worry about you,” Aria admitted, her tension now giving way to a softer tone. “He’d better at least protect you from that crooked family of his. He’s practically throwing you to the wolves.”

I shook my head, though I understood her point. It was complicated in more ways than one. “I appreciate your concern, Aria, but this is important. He’d do the same for me.”

She sighed, her anger subsiding. “I guess you’re right. It’s just hard to see you so caught up in his problems sometimes. I hope he appreciates what he has in you.”

Aria’s words lingered in the air as I finished preparing. I’d put up with a lot from Timothy family, and Stella was a whole other matter. But I couldn’t help it.

I had to be there for him today, and no amount of anger or uncertainty could change that.

“I should be back by three,” I told Aria.

With a final glance at the mirror, I grabbed my coat and umbrella and left for the funeral home. The rain had not let up, and it seemed as if even the heavens were mourning the loss of Timothy’s mother.

When I arrived at the funeral home, there was already a hoard of people filing inside the tall, somber building. After parking, I grabbed my purse from the passenger seat and got out to follow the crowd.

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with gret. People were huddled in groups, whispering words of consolation:to one another. The scent of fresh flowers mixed with a pervasive feeling of melancholy. I searched the room for

gratitude in his gase. He approached me. his

“wouldn’t be anywhere else. Timothy. I’m here for you.”

and I sensed a flicker of something more beneath his gaze. But before! could decipher it, he led me to our seats, placing a hand gemmy on the small of my back. We walked in silence,

with mourners, and the service began with the sound of hymns and heartfelt ealogies. Timothy sat

delivered his sermon, I noticed a tension in Timothy’s shoulders. He clenched and unclenched his fists, his face a mask of

the front of the room. He took a deep breath, his

for the occasional sniffle or stifled sob. Once Timothy’s speech ended, he looked over at me. Our eyes met, and I gave him an encouraging smile.

we moved to

hushed whispers carrying an obvious amount of judgment. It wasn’t the first time I had sensed their disapproval,

standing to my left, must have noticed my discomfort. After his friend, Ethan, came up and offered his

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all right?” he asked

+5

lock of hair behind my ears, shifting my gaze back to him. “I should be

to respond, but his attention was immediately drawn elsewhere as he observed something behind me. I turned to follow his gaze and saw Kamran steadily approaching, was tall and

time in expressing his distaste for my presence, and his anger was palpable. “Evie,” he said with thinly veiled condescension, “I can’t say I expected to see

eyes. “Timothy called

planned on making the announcement public soon,