The Hockey Roommate's Filthy Desire novel Chapter 19

hapter 19

ARIA’S POV

For a moment, I just stood there.

The boy’s phone screen glowed between us, the video paused on the exact moment Julian’s hand had been on my face…. the moment he kissed me.

I felt my throat tighten. The boy watched me carefully, waiting for a reaction. He didn’t get one.

Instead, I pulled out the chair at the front of the room and sat down.

“Well,” I said quietly, opening my notebook. “Since you’re the only one here, I guess you get a private lesson.”

He blinked. “That’s it?” he asked.

“That’s it.” He stared at me for a few seconds longer, clearly disappointed that I wasn’t about to break down or start defending myself. Then he slowly leaned forward in his chair.

The contempt was still there. But curiosity had crept in too. The lesson began. Teaching just one student felt strange. The room was too quiet. Every word echoed more than usual.

But I pushed through it. Explained the concepts. Asked questions. Wrote notes on the board. The boy barely spoke at first. Then slowly, reluctantly, he started answering.

Forty minutes later, the lesson ended. He packed his bag without looking at me. “Are you really… you know,” he muttered.

I didn’t ask what he meant. “Have a good night,” I said instead. He left. The empty classroom swallowed the silence again. I gathered my things slowly. Then headed for my next job.

The coffee shop was packed. But not in the usual way. The moment I pushed open the door, I knew something was wrong. Every table was occupied.

And almost every face turned toward me..Students from Westbridge..Dozens of them. Some whispering. Some laughed. Some openly stared.

It didn’t take a genius to figure out what was happening. They had come here on purpose.

Waiting. My stomach twisted. I tied on my apron anyway. Work was work.

And I needed the money. “Finally decided to show up?” my manager muttered from behind the counter.

“I’m here now.” He didn’t look impressed.

“You’ve missed a few shifts already.”

“I had classes.”

Not my problem.” Before I could answer, a voice called from one of the corner tables.

“Hey!” I forced myself to walk over. Four guys sat there. Leaning back in their chairs like they owned the place. One of them. looked me up and down slowly. His grin was disgusting.

“So,” he said loudly, “since you’ve decided to be Julian’s whore…” The table burst into laughter. “Why don’t you give the rest

of us a taste too?”

1/4

Chapter 19

My stomach churned. I placed the menus on the table without responding..” What can I get you?” They laughed again.

“Wow,” another one said. “She’s playing hard to get.” My hands tightened around the notepad.

“Order,” I said shortly. Eventually they did. When I walked away, I heard one of them whisper loudly.

“Bet she’s wild in bed.”

I swallowed the anger burning in my throat..It didn’t stop. At another table, a group of girls called me over. Their smiles were sweet. Too sweet..” So tell us something,” one of them said. “Is it true?”

I kept my voice neutral..“What?”

“That you were begging Luca to sleep with you….” She paused for effect…..and when he chose Serena instead, you ran straight to his enemy?”

The girls giggled. “Classic revenge move,” another one added.

“You know,” the first girl said thoughtfully, “it’s kind of pathetic.” I stared at them. For a moment, I considered throwing the tray at their faces.

Instead, I turned away.

“I’ll bring your drinks.” An hour later, I couldn’t take it anymore. The whispers. The laughter. The stares.

Every step felt heavier than the last..I walked straight into the back office.

“I can’t finish my shift tonight,” I told my manager. He looked up from his paperwork.

“Excuse me?”

“I need to leave.”

He scoffed. “You’ve already missed days of work.”

“I know.”

“And

now you want a half shift?” I clenched my jaw.

“Yes.”

“No.”

My patience snapped.

“You’ve seen what’s happening out there.”

“Not my problem,” he said flatly. “You’re on schedule. You work.”

You leave now, don’t bother coming back tomorrow.” The words hung in the air. I stood there for a moment. Then slowly nodded.

“Fine.” I went back out. Another customer raised their hand.

2/4

Chapter 19

“Excuse me!” I walked over with a forced smile. A familiar face looked up at me. Serena’s friend..One of the girls who had stood behind her in class..Her lips curved into a smug smile.

“I’ll take a premium hot coffee,” she said sweetly.

“Sure.” I turned and made the drink..Steam rose from the cup as I placed it carefully on the tray.

When I brought it back to the table, she leaned forward expectantly. “Here you go.”

I set the cup down. The next moment happened too fast. Her hand jerked suddenly. The cup tipped.

Scalding coffee splashed across my arm. Pain shot through my skin. I gasped.

“Oh my God!” she exclaimed loudly. Everyone turned to look. “She spilled it on me!”

“What?” I stared at her in disbelief.

“You did that on purpose!” she cried. My manager rushed over.

“What’s going on?”

“She threw hot coffee at me!” the girl wailed.

“I didn’t!” I protested.

“She’s lying!” the girl insisted. “She’s mad because I asked about those rumors!”

My manager’s face darkened..“You did this because I wouldn’t let you leave early?”

“What? No!”

“You think you can hurt customers here?”

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