Chapter 39


    The clock struck midnight, and the moon cast a gentle glow through the window of Lucas‘ living


    room. Iy restlessly on the couch, tossing and turning for the right position. My mind was


    consumed by memories of Timothy of all things.


    His words at the restaurant flooded back to me. He called me inspiring andpassionate, two


    words I’d never heard go alongside my name. I found myself reaching for my phone, tempted to call


    him, but I hesitated.


    Even if I was insane enough, calling Timothy was not a good idea. Parting ways at the restaurant


    had felt like a breakup for a rtionship that never happened. With the solitude of the night, the


    nostalgia of it crept in, tugging at my heartstrings.


    His bright eyes, so filled with regret as he stared down at me when I said I’d keep in touch. He


    already knew what that meant for us. I touched the pendant he’d gifted me, nestled warmly against


    my chest, and its inscribed words, shed in my


    memory.


    Say the right thing…What was the right thing?


    I nced at my phone, my thumb hovering over the call button. Would it be so wrong to hear his


    voice one more time? To know that he was okay and to feel that sense of connection again?


    With a sigh, I set my phone back on the coffee table. I wrapped my arms around myself and looked


    over at Aria, bundled up in nkets as she snored peacefully. I slid out from beneath my nket


    and crawled over to her on all fours.


    I reached over and tapped her on the head a few times. It took a moment for her to realize, then she


    was twisting around. Fresh slobber was smeared across her cheek and I fought back augh.


    “The right thing,” I said abruptly.


    She blinked slowly. “Huh?”


    “It’s the right thing,” I repeated. “I thought some more about the new apartment. I’d be ready to


    make some serious readjustments if you’re up for it.”


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    Even in her tired state, arge smile spread across her face and she squeezed her eyes shut.


    “Really? But you were worried about the budget…”


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    I smiled. “I know, but no budget is worth risking our lives when we don’t have to. Besides, a life of


    luxury doesn’t sound so pretentious from where we’re standing.”


    Aria looked away, her eyebrows creasing. She sat up and wiped her face on her sleeve. “But what if


    we really can’t afford it? I had my head in the clouds when I said all that stuff.”


    “We won’t know unless we try. And besides, we’re not alone in this. We have each other,


    remember?” I took her hand and patted it for assurance.


    The apprehension in her face slowly melted away, reced by a newfound sense of Hope. Finally,


    she returned the smile.


    “You’re right. I think we could make it happen.”


    My smile widened. “We can start tomorrow. Let’s check out that luxury apartment downtown again


    and see what we can do!”


    “Let’s do it!” She pped her hands and pumped her fists in the air. “This could be our chance for a


    fresh!”


    Exactly. A fresh start was all we needed.


    TIMOTHY POV


    The weight room was alive with the sound of nging weights and the grunting of gym–goers


    engrossed in their workouts. Among them, Timothy stood at the bench. press, his muscles flexing


    with cach lift. He had decided to raise the intensity that day, hoping it would silence his thoughts.


    As he groaned through the workout, his former teammates and friend, Ethan, looked over at him.


    Timothy got through ten more reps before Ethan set down his own set of dumbbells and walked


    over.


    There was concern etched on his face, which made Timothy more irritable than he would have


    liked. They had all been looking at him strangely ever since the trial. It was as if they expected him


    to never return to the light of day.


    Frustrated, Timothy removed his earbuds and attempted to smile at Ethan.


    Ethan smiled back, although it was strained. “Hey, man, you’re really pushing it


    today. Is everything alright?”


    O


    Timothy set the barbell down, his breaths heavy as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. He


    looked at Ethan, hesitating before finally speaking up.


    “Nah, I’m good. Just with everything going on…it’s got me on edge.”


    Ethan sat beside him anyway and took a swig of his water before setting the bottle down beside his


    foot. “I’ll bet. If I were you, I’d be sitting at home trashing myself after everything you went through.


    You chose the healthy route.”


    “Healthy.” Timothy stared down at his shoes and sighed. “I feel like garbage anyway. I may have


    won the case, but that doesn’t fix other things.”


    Ethan raised an eyebrow. “Oh.”


    Catching himself, Timothy wanted desperately to snatch the words back into his mind. It would’ve


    been hopeless though, as inquisitive as Ethan could be. He took the towel from the chair beside him


    and wiped his sweating face.


    “I messed up, Ethan,” Timothy admitted, his hoarse. “I met this incredible woman, and I screwed up


    hard. Now I don’t know how to fix it.”


    Ethan’s wiggled his eyebrow. “Would this woman happen to be that stunningdy we all saw on the


    news?”


    Timothy cringed. The sports center had been ying that news coverage of hist court hearing all


    week. Evie had be a popr subject amongst his teammates, who spected that more was


    going on between her and Timothy.


    “It’s not what people think,” Timothy said, with a sudden attempt at squashing the rumor. Even if he


    wanted it to be true.


    “Sure.” Ethan started to grin, nudging Timothy in the arm. “Look, bud. You can’t fix what you don’t


    try to mend. You should talk to her face to face, and let her know how you feel.”


    Timothy shook his head. “I tried that. I apologized, and I even gave her gifts. She still can hardly


    look at me most of the time.”


    Ethan rubbed his jaw, deep in thought. He eventually broke the silence with a grunt. “What did you


    do exactly?”


    35


    A


    Timothy groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. Even recalling that terrible moment left a bad


    taste in his mouth. At times, he could hardly bear to look at himself because of it.


    “I made a stupid dare and she wound up hurt because of it,” he said, choosing his words carefully. It


    was a story he kept to himself.


    He had the suspicion that Evie felt obligated to keep it a secret on her end. Her friend and boyfriend


    had seemed harmlessly friendly toward him, as if they truly didn’t know.


    Fortunately, Ethan didn’t look at him in any disgusted manner. He only seemed intrigued as he sat


    and considered him for a moment. Suddenly, he snapped his fingers and nudged Timothy in the


    shoulder.


    “Tell you what, I can be your wingman!” he announced brightly. “A wingman is meant to brag all


    about how good his friend is. You just need someone to credit you, and I’m your guy!”


    Timothy failed at fighting back a smile. “What is this, the 90’s?”


    Ethan nudged him again. “This is science, man! Look, we’ll figure out a n together, okay? It’ll


    give you a chance to show her you’re serious about making things right.”


    Timothy’s eyes met Ethan’s, a mix of gratitude and nervousness evident in his expression. “You’d


    really do that for me?”


    Ethan smiled. “Hey, you’ve gotten me out of a tough situation or two. Figure I could return the favor


    after all this time.”


    Suddenly, the gym’s entrance door swung open and in walked Ste Fitzgerald, the fiery daughter


    of Mr. Fitzgerald. Her entrance immediatelymanded the attention of the whole room as she


    marched forward, d in bedazzled, designer clothing.


    Ste’s eyes locked onto Timothy, and with a determined stride, she approached. him. Her red hair


    cascaded around her shoulders, and her eyes burned with fury.


    Without hesitation, she raised her hand and delivered a sharp, stinging p across Timothy’s face.


    The sound reverberated through the gym, and the other yers. turned to watch the scene unfold.


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    凸


    Timothy’s check stung, and he held it as he stared at Ste, who was seething with rage. “What the


    hell, Ste?” he eximed.


    “You,” Ste spat out, “you’re the reason my father lost his job, you pathetic shit!”


    Timothy sat up straight, taken aback by her aggression. “Ste,” he replied evenly, “your father had


    iting. He was involved in some pretty shady stuff.”


    Ste’s nostrils red, and her voice was a seething whisper. “This isn’t over, Timothy. Nobody


    screws with the Fitzgeralds and lives to tell it!”


    Timothy stood up, towering over her. Her threats meant nothing to him anymore. “Ste, your


    father’s actions were his own doing. I had to stand up for what’s right, and Evie fought hard to make


    sure that happened!”


    Ste clenched her fists in frustration, her anger mounting. She leaned in close, her words barely


    more than a hiss. “That skank could never rece me, you know. Have your fun now, but it won’t


    last.”


    Timothy stared at her, a mix of disbelief and anger coursing through him. He couldn’t let Ste’s


    insults stand. “You could neverpare to Evie, Ste. She’s got more ss in her little finger than


    you do in your whole body.”


    Ste’s face reddened with a flush of rage, and her voice took on a shrill tone. “You arrogant,


    ungrateful jerk!”


    In the gym, the atmosphere had shifted from silent attention to suppressedughter. Timothy’s


    teammates, who had been overhearing the heated exchange, couldn’t contain their amusement any


    longer. Laughter erupted as Timothy stood. up and walked out of the lounge, leaving a seething


    Ste behind.


    Ethan followed Timothy, trying to stifle a grin. “Well, that was quite a showdown.”


    Timothy, still boiling inside, shook his head. “I can’t let things end like this. between Evie and me. I


    won’t.”


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