The Hockey Star’s Remorse by Riley Above Story novel Chapter 55

Chapter 55 

As I approached my apartment, I was surprised to see Timothy standing there. His face lit up when he saw me, and I couldn’t help but smile back, despite the Linda issue. 

“Hey, Evie! It’s been a while. How are you?” he asked warmly. 

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to respond. I wasn’t ready to be honest with Timothy, but I didn’t want to seem distant either. 

“I’ve been okay,” I finally replied, trying to sound casual. “Just been busy with work and stuff.” 

Timothy studied my face for a moment. “Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked, concern in his eyes. 

I nodded quickly. “Yeah, yeah, I’m fne,” I assured him. “Just in a bit of a rush right. now, that’s all.” 

He didn’t seem fully convinced, but he let the subject drop for the moment. 

As much as I tried to resist, curiosity got the better of me. “I didn’t know you had a dog,” I blurted out, feeling a little embarrassed after. 

He smiled, seemingly delighted by this insight. “Yeah, I got Duke a few months. ago. He’s been a great companion, especially during my recovery,” he explained, his eyes lighting up with affection as he talked about his furry friend. 

“Well, if you have a few minutes, you should come over and see Duke,” he said brightly. 

“I’d love to meet him,” I replied, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension. I knew spending more time with Timothy might stir up emotions I wasn’t ready to confront, but I couldn’t resist the opportunity to see Duke. 

“Cool! Follow me.” Timothy said, gesturing toward his apartment door. “He’s a big sweetheart, I promise.” 

I followed him to his apartment, my heart beating a little faster with each step. Once we reached his door, he unlocked it and motioned for me to enter first. 

As I stepped inside, a wave of familiarity washed over me. Timothy’s apartment 

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was cozy and well–decorated, with a touch of his personality evident in every corner. I noticed a few hockey–related items scattered around, a testament to his passion for the sport. 

“Duke! Come here, buddy,” Timothy called out, and a few seconds later, a golden retriever came bounding over to us. He was a handsome dog with a friendly demeanor, and his wagging tail instantly made me smile. 

“This is Duke,” Timothy said proudly, patting the dog’s head. “Duke, this is Evie.” 

Duke gave me an inquisitive look, then nudged his head against my hand, seeking some affection. I happily obliged, scratching behind his ears as he wagged his tail even more vigorously. 

“He seems to like you,” Timothy observed with a grin. “You’re a natural with dogs.” 

I chuckled, enjoying the interaction with Duke. “I’ve always loved dogs,” I admitted. “They’re such loyal and loving creatures.” 

“Yeah, they really are,” Timothy agreed, looking fondly at his furry companion. “Duke’s been a good pal, haven’t you, boy?” 

“Yeah, he’s a sweet boy,” I replied, scratching under Duke’s chin as he barked. proudly. “I’m surprised you didn’t mention him before.” 

Timothy chuckled. “Yeah, I guess I didn’t bring him up. He’s special to me, so I don’t really let too many people know about him.” 

“Except Linda…” I blurted out. Timothy’s eyebrows rose and I clamped my mouth. shut, hoping I hadn’t overstepped my bounds. 

Instead of discomfort, he merely grinned and shook his head. “Uh, Linda’s… fine,” he replied, looking a bit awkward. “Duke seems way fonder of you though.” 

That was odd considering she’d been around Duke more often than me, assuming she went over to Timothy’s that frequently. Still, I nodded, not wanting to pry too much into his personal life. But the unease lingered, especially since I had plans to meet Linda later. 

“I’ve been a bit moody lately,” I admitted, deciding to steer the conversation away from Linda. “I split up with Lucas.” 

Timothy didn’t react at first. Only when he turned his attention away from Duke to 

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look me in the eyes did I catch a flash of guilt in his expression. He frowned and ducked his head. 

“Oh, really? I’m so sorry,” he said, although his tone comically lacked any genuine sincerity. 

“It was so sudden. I don’t really know what happened,” I continued, egging him on. “One moment we’re enjoying coffee, then the next he tells me it’s not working out. 

Timothy’s expression turned serious. “You two seemed so close. Man…” 

“Yeah.” I pouted my lips. 

His face hardened, and I could tell he was holding something back. “Well, I might’ve punched him at the club,” he confessed, looking a bit guilty himself. 

My eyes widened in shock. “You what?” I exclaimed, trying to sound angry, but unable to hide my amusement. 

Timothy sighed and fiddled with his shirt sleeve. “I got a bit carried away,” he admitted. “But don’t worry, I’ll talk to him and apologize.” 

I grimaced. “Oh, no. You’re not getting off that easily,” I said sternly. 

Timothy’s expression shifted to something more fearful. “I know. I really screwed 

up.” 

do 

“Why would you it?” 

“I saw him dancing with some other guy at the club, and I just lost it. I know it was wrong, and I feel bad about it, but he shouldn’t do that to you,” Timothy explained. 

I pretended to be angry, crossing my arms and giving him a disapproving look. “You can’t go around punching people, Timothy! No matter what the reason is, that’s not how you handle things,” I scolded, trying my best to sound convincing. 

Actually, hearing the words come out of his mouth left me feeling the opposite. So he really had wanted to protect me, although I wish he hadn’t punched my friend. Of course, he didn’t know that my relationship with Lucas was platonic. 

He sighed and nodded again. “You’re right. I let my emotions get the best of me. I should have handled it differently,” he acknowledged. “Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?” 

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Chapter 55 

I softened my tone a little, trying to be understanding. “It’s good that you’re willing to apologize, but please, be careful with your temper. You don’t want to end up causing more trouble for yourself,” I advised. 

Timothy looked contrite. “You’re right, Evie. I need to work on controlling my emotions better,” he said, remorse in his eyes.