The Hockey Star’s Remorse

Chapter 108

apter 108

“Sorry, | wasn’t looking,” Timothy mumbled, looking down at me with a strained expression. | bent down to retrieve my phone, my cheeks flaming with. embarrassment. “It’s fine.”

Timothy knelt down to help me collect my phone, our hands brushing against. each other as we reached for it simultaneously. My heart raced at the fleeting touch, and | quickly withdrew my hand, feeling my face grow even warmer.

“No, it isn’t,” Timothy said, his eyes suddenly intense. “I should have been more careful. | couldn’t help but frown at the obvious reference in his statement. “Yeah.”

| couldn't stand to look at him, not after everything. His digitalized face was already plastered around the internet and the town. Having him here, up close, was overwhelming.

He took a step closer, his frown deepening. “I’m so sorry, Evie, for everything. Are you all right after what happened with Bruce?”

| kept my answers short, unable to find the proper words to express myself. “I’m fine,” | replied, my voice devoid of emotion. “I just hope they find Bruce and put him behind bars.”

“Find him?” Timothy squinted, leaning in close. “He was hit by my car? Where else could he possibly be?”

| kept my eyes averted, even as he attempted to meet my gaze. He reached for my wrist, and | snatched it away, feeling the sting of his touch.

“Evie, please. Talk to me,” he begged.

| took a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest. “Earlier today, | got a call from the police. They told me that Bruce managed to escape from the hospital.”

Timothy's eyes widened in shock, and he took a step closer to me. “What? How did that happen? Why didn’t | know about this?”

My voice trembled as | tried to explain. “I guess you've been busy with interviews. and everything... about our supposed relationship.”

Aheavy silence settled between us, filled with the weight of unspoken words and unresolved tensions. Timothy's face grew dark, his eyes filled with a mixture of

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hurt and anger.

“|...,” he started, his voice edged with bitterness, “Whatever story they’re spinning out there, it has nothing to do with me.”

“Sure,” | spat, leering at him.

“| swear, | didn’t.” He brought his hands to his chest for emphasis. “But regardless, if Bruce is out there, that means he’s free to do who knows what.”

He turned away from me, his shoulders tense with anger. “Evie, | know this isn’t something we can just move beyond, but you have to let me help you. | have the connections.”

When | met his sorrowful eyes, | felt my resolve weaken. He had been looking more and more worn out the past couple of weeks. | guess he was starting to realize how it felt to lose yourself mentally.

“| don’t need your connections,” | gritted out, my hands tightening into fists by my sides.

The weight of the past weeks had left me emotionally drained, and | couldn’t bring myself to engage in a lengthy conversation with him of all people. His fans were already tiresome enough.

That, accompanied with the memory of Bruce’s violent outburst flashed through my mind, and | felt a surge of anger and fear. | couldn’t forget how he had gotten physical with me, and Timothy’s insistence on receiving my forgiveness lit a fire in

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| took a step back, my eyes welling up with tears. “Timothy,” | said, my voice trembling with emotion, “you have no idea what it was like, what | went through. | can’t just forget that.”

Timothy's expression shifted to one of remorse, and he moved closer to me, his voice filled with sincerity. “Evie, | never meant for any of this to happen. Things got out of control, and |...”

| interrupted him, my voice choked with sadness and frustration. “You’re always sorry. That's all | hear from you, yet you never change!".

He clenched his jaw and looked away, watching as the elevator doors slid looked like he was ready to pivot and walk though them, but he paused.

open. It

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FI, 22

“| have changed,” he asserted, stepping forward. “I’m not some stupid teenager anymore. Obviously, the past is haunting us right now, but we can get through this.”

“Can we?!?” | shrieked. “Tell me what there is to fix?”

This took him back a little and his eyebrows furrowed in question. We were both heaving now, our bodies rushing with adrenaline. He reached out once more and trailed his fingers lightly over my arms.

| shrugged him off. “Timothy, | am trying to make a name for myself outside of you. My career is my life now, and that means putting everything behind me.”

Tears welled up in my eyes, and | turned away from him, unable to bear the weight of his presence any longer. | knew that any redemption between us had been. fractured, and despite feeling content with it once before, it was painful to admit out loud.

“Including you,” | said finally. Timothy reached out to stop me, his hand hovering over my shoulder. “Evie, please. | can’t...| can’t lose you again.” | took a deep, shuddering breath, my heart heavy with conflicting emotions. “Timothy, | need to move on. You should too.”

With that, | continued walking down the hall and toward my apartment. Once I'd locked myself inside, | hurried to my laptop, my fingers trembling as | opened it. The glow of the screen was blinding as | logged in and went straight to the internet.

| opened my web browser and typed Timothy and my names into the search bar. What | found was a dizzying array of fan sites, articles, and social media pages dedicated to the imaginary love story of TEVIE.

Images of us together filled the screen, along with headlines that speculated about the nature of our relationship.

| couldn't help but feel a sense of disconnect from the version of myself that was being portrayed online. It was as if | were looking at a stranger, someone whose life had been hijacked by the fantasies of others. This digital woman was captivated by her hockey star lover, but she had to balance that infatuation with her budding

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career as a successful lawyer.

The universe was taunting me.

One particular site caught my eye-a chatroom dedicated to discussing Timothy and me. | clicked on the link, my curiosity getting the better of me. The chatroom was abuzz with activity, and the messages scrolled down the screen like a never- ending stream of gossip and speculation.

| decided to join the conversation anonymously, creating a username that concealed my true identity. As | typed, my fingers danced across the keyboard, and | assumed the persona of a curious fan.

AnonymousUser123: Hey, I’ve been following the whole TEVIE thing, and I’m starting to think they might not actually be dating. Almost immediately, responses flooded in, filled with animosity and disbelief.

FanGirl94: Are you kidding me? Have you seen the way they look at each other? They’re totally in love! TEVIEForever: Don’t be a hater! They're meant to be together. It’s obvious.

TrueBeliever: If you can’t see the chemistry, you must be blind! HockeyGirl55: Like, get lost! You must be new here or something TEVIEForever: RIGHT! Anybody that’s done the research will know!

| bit my lip, taken aback by the passionate responses. It seemed that the fans were unwavering in their belief in our supposed romance. | needed to tread carefully.

AnonymousUser123: I’m not a hater, | promise. I’ve just been thinking about it, and maybe they’re just really close friends.

The chatroom exploded with indignation.

TEVIEForever: Close friends don’t look at each other like that! UnoCuchono6: They're always together! Friends don’t do that! 2BabblingBabe2: You clearly don’t understand love if you can’t see it between them!

| sighed, realizing that my attempt to introduce doubt had backfired. The fans‘ conviction in the TEVIE narrative seemed unshakable.

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Fil, 22

AnonymousUser123: | guess | just thought it’s important to consider other possibilities. But hey, if you all believe in their love, that's cool too.

TEVIEForever: OMG we need more mods here! All kinds of trolls rolling int

UnoCuchon06: Look at them cowering now....she thought she could destroy their love with that pathetic attempt

| closed the chatroom, feeling a mixture of frustration and sadness. It was

disheartening

had become. See how deeply entrenched the belief in our imaginary romance

had become. Their passion wasn’t as unsettling as Linda’s had been, but it was a parasocial nightmare nonetheless.

As | shut down my laptop, | couldn’t help but wonder how | had ended up in this surreal situation. The events of the past few months had transformed my life into a whirlwind of confusion and emotions. It was as if | were living in a parallel universe, one where the lines between reality and fantasy had become hopelessly blurred.

With a heavy heart, | retreated to my bedroom, hoping that sleep would offer a short escape from the madness.

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