The Hockey Roommate's Filthy Desire novel Chapter 61

Chapter 61

Chapter 61

ARIA’S POV

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Finals came faster than I expected. Or maybe I just didn’t have the energy to keep track of time anymore.

Everything blurred into one long stretch of exhaustion, tension, and sleepless nights.

Books. Notes. Coffee.

I barely had time to think about Julian, about Leonie, about everything that had happened between us.

Maybe that was a good thing. Because thinking about it too much? It made everything complicated again.

And I didn’t have space for complications. Not now. Not when my entire future depended on these exams.

I didn’t have the luxury of failure. I could still sense the looks whenever I walked through school but j ignored them. It wasn’t worth losing my sleep at all.

Professor Hensley noticed. Of course he did.

He always did. “Aria,” he called one afternoon as I packed my things after a review session.

I paused, glancing up. “Yes, sir?”

“You’ve been pushing yourself too hard,” he said, his tone calm but firm. “You need rest too.”

A small, tired smile tugged at my lips. “I’ll rest after exams.”

He studied me for a moment longer, like he wanted to say something else. Then he sighed softly.

“I heard about what happened.” My chest tightened. I didn’t need clarification. Julian.

Of course. “I’m fine,” I said quickly.

His expression hardened slightly. “That wasn’t fine, Aria. That was unacceptable.”

I stayed quiet. “You and I know what I’m talking about. His attitude and his arrogance are on another level, Aria. Showing up at my office, threatening me?” he continued. “That’s not normal behavior.”

I swallowed. “He’s volatile, reckless and impulsive,” he added. “And you should be careful.”

Careful. The word lingered in the air. “I appreciate your concern, sir,” I said politely. “But, this is a matter I can handle on my own. Plus it’s complicated.”

“It doesn’t have to be,” he replied. But it was.

Because how do you explain that the same person who hurt you was also the one who held you together?

How do

you

walk away from someone who has suddenly become your entire world?

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Chapter 61

“I’ll be careful,” I said finally.

It wasn’t an answer. But it was all I could give.

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The days passed quickly after that. Most of my time was spent in the library, buried under books and notes, trying to keep my mind from drifting.

And almost every night, Julian came. He never said much. Sometimes he’d just stand there, leaning against the doorframe, watching me pack up.

Other times, he’d take my bag without asking.

Silent. Present. Like nothing else mattered but getting me home.

We didn’t talk about what happened. Not really. But something had shifted. It wasn’t fixed. But it wasn’t broken either.

It was fragile.

Like one wrong move could shatter everything again. Soon the exams started in full swing and I poured all my time and energy into it, making sure I did exceptionally well.

And then, just like that, it was over. My final exam. I stepped out of the hall, my heart racing, my mind still buzzing from everything I had just written.

Done. Finally done. A strange mix of relief and emptiness settled in my chest. This chapter of my life was

over.

“Aria.” I turned at the sound of my name.

Professor Hensley.

A small smile formed on my lips. “Sir.”

“You did well,” he said, like he already knew.

I let out a soft breath. “I hope so.”

There was a pause. And then something inside me moved before I could think it through. “Thank you,” I said quietly. “For everything.”

And before I could stop myself, I stepped forward and hugged him. It wasn’t planned.

It wasn’t calculated. It just happened.

For a second, he stiffened slightly. Then, slowly, he relaxed. “It’s my job,” he said gently. But I shook my head against his shoulder.

“It meant more than that.” Because it did.

There was something about him, something steady, something safe and something that reminded me of a

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Chapter 61

version of comfort I hadn’t felt in a long time.

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Maybe even of my father. I pulled back quickly, suddenly aware of what I had done. “I’m sorry.” I said, a little embarrassed.

He gave a small smile. “You don’t have to apologize.”

I nodded, stepping back. “I should go,” I added.

“Take care of yourself, Aria.”

“I will.”

I headed to the library one last time to gather my things. The campus was already quieter.

Most people had left. It felt strange.

Like everything was ending too quickly. I moved through the rows absentmindedly, picking up the last of my books.

And then, I heard it. “Aria.” I froze. That voice.

Slowly, I turned. Luca. My stomach dropped.

“What are you doing here?” I asked cautiously.

He looked different. Less cocky. More serious.

“I needed to see you,” he said.

I tightened my grip on my books. “Why?” He took a step closer.

“I owe you an apology.”

I blinked. “What?”

“For everything,” he said. “For how I treated you. For taking you for granted.” Silence stretched between us. “I was a jerk,” he admitted. “And I didn’t realize what I had until I lost it.”

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