Chapter 213


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    As Timothy and I stood outside the venue entrance, Jasper was thrown out right after us. As he


    stumbled past us, he seemed intent on ring the whole way to his car, then gave us the middle


    finger as he sped off.


    I had every urge to hit him, but from the way his right eye was swelling, Timothy had gotten him well


    enough.


    Timothy sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry about all this, Evie. It was supposed to


    be a fun evening.”


    I shook my head, reaching to caress the bruise already blossoming on his cheek. “Don’t apologize,


    Timothy. This wasn’t your fault. Jasper’s just a jerk.”


    He looked at me and smiled before wincing, blood leaking from his busted lip. “Life has a way of


    throwing curveballs, doesn’t it?”


    “Or fists,” I said, swiping my thumb over his lip. “Let’s get you cleaned up, huh?”


    As we reached Timothy’s car, I could see the bruises beginning to bloom on the side of his face. His


    jaw clenched with every step, a visible effort to downy the pain. I frowned, my anger toward


    Jasper escting.


    “I still can’t believe he punched you. What an asshole!”


    Timothy managed a weak smile. “It’s just a couple of bruises, Evie. I’ve had worse on the hockey


    rink.”


    I couldn’t shake the sense of responsibility that settled over me. “I’m so sorry. This wasn’t how I


    imagined the night going. None of this should have happened.”


    He shook his head, dismissing the apology. “It’s not your fault. That guy was drunk and out of his


    mind. I would’ve been surprised if he didn’t try to fight.”


    I touched his cheek, but jerked my hand away when he winced. “Still, he always thinks he’s owed


    something. When he can bribe it out of you, he’ll just try to get rid of you.


    Timothy’s gaze met mine, and I could sense a shared understanding. “You’re going to have to deal


    with him now. As his senior, he’ll be your responsibility.”


    I took a deep breath, the weight of my new role sinking in. “I know. And I’ll handle it. If anything, this


    gives me


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    the opportunity to address some things with him.”


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    Timothy leaned against his car, wincing as he tried to find afortable position. I sighed and


    shook my head.


    “Let me clean those cuts for you,” I said. “It’s the least I can do.”


    He hesitated, then nodded. “Sure, if it makes you feel better.”


    I retrieved his first aid kit from the trunk and guided him to sit on the car’s hood. As I began to


    disinfect the cuts. on his face, the closeness of the moment felt overwhelming. The soft glow of the


    parking lot lights entuated the lines of his face, and the cool night air hung between us.


    “I’m really sorry,” I murmured, my focus on the task at hand but my mind elsewhere. “You shouldn’t


    have had to go through this.”


    Timothy chuckled softly. “Evie, it’s fine. And it’s not the first time I’ve been in a fight. And besides,


    you’re not the one who threw the punch.”


    I couldn’t help but smile at his attempt to lighten the mood. “True, but I still feel responsible. You


    were defending me.”


    Timothy met my gaze, his eyes reflecting a mixture of gratitude and something I couldn’t quite


    ce. “You don’t have to apologize. I’d do it again if I had to.”


    As I finished cleaning the cuts, I carefully ced a bandage over the worst of the cuts. The touch of


    my fingers against his skin sent a subtle shiver through me.


    “Thank you,” Timothy said, his voice soft.


    I met his gaze. “You’re wee, Timothy. We’re a team, remember?”


    He smiled, a warmth in his eyes that made the night air feel a little less frigid. “We’re more than


    that..”


    We stood in the quiet of the parking lot, just inches apart. Timothy’s hand cupped my cheek and I


    leaned into the warmth of his palm.


    Our lips met in a soft, hesitant kiss–a moment suspended in time. I wrapped my arms around his


    neck, deepening the kiss. All too quickly, however, I felt Timothy pull away.


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    A shadow passed over his eyes, and the tenderness of the moment gave way to a subtle distance. I


    searched his gaze for answers, but the unspoken question lingered between us.


    “Evie,” he said, his voice low, “I want things to stay good between us. It feels like I’m always


    screwing things up, and I’m scared things will change.”


    I furrowed my eyebrows. “Timothy, what do you mean? Why would things change?”


    He sighed, his expression pained. “I know what I did in the past. I hurt you, and I’m just scared of


    losing you again.”


    His words hung in the air like a heavy secret. The wounds of the past, scars from a time when trust


    had been shattered, still haunted him. In that moment, I saw the lingering doubt in his eyes, the fear


    that I might harbor resentment for the mistakes he believed defined him.


    I reached out, my fingers gently tracing the bruises on his face. “Timothy, I don’t hate you. We’ve


    both grown since then. I don’t want the past to define use anymore.”


    A flicker of relief passed through his eyes, but the tension lingered. As he pulled away, a sense of


    disappointment washed over me. Even as he squeezed my hands and offered a smile, I felt the


    atmosphere shift.


    “Let me drive you back,” Timothy offered, breaking the heavy silence that had settled between us.


    I nodded, sinking into the passenger seat of his car. As Timothy started the car, the engine’s hum


    was the only sound among us.


    As we approached the apartment, the silence between us spoke louder than words. Timothy parked


    the car, and I mustered a weak smile. “Thanks for taking me out.”


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    He nodded, a hint of regret in his eyes. “Anytime. I mean, could’ve done without getting punched,


    but everything else was nice.”


    I started to grin. “Maybe mini golf would be safer next time.”


    “Maybe,” he said with augh.


    As we approached my apartment door, Timothy’s gaze met mine, a silent understanding passing


    between us.


    Before I could fully grasp the moment, Timothy leaned in, his lips meeting mine in a tender kiss. The


    warmth of


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    the embrace, the softness of his touch, eased the worries that I’d had. In that fleeting moment, the


    world seemed to fade away.


    As he pulled away, I couldn’t help but ask, “Are things okay between us, Timothy?”


    A soft smile yed on his lips, his fingerscing with mine. “Things are amazing


    Relief washed over me, a weight lifted from my shoulders. Timothy wrapped his arms around my


    waist and pulled me into a hug. “Have a good night, Evie.”


    I nodded, teasing the hair on the back of his head. “You too.”


    He stepped back, a lingering nce passing between us, and then he turned to leave. I watched


    him disappear into his own apartment and wave once more before closing the door.


    The door closed behind me, and I leaned against it, my lips still vibrating from the kiss.


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