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

SSH

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?”

Il

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.

I reached out and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “I know you've been through a lot lately, and it's understandable to

feel overwhelmed. But remember, I’m here for you if you need someone to talk to,” I offered.

He gave me a small smile, appreciating the support. “Thank you. I’m lucky to have a friend like you,” he said sincerely.

Just him calling me a “friend” left me feeling slightly weightless. Part of me wanted to tell him how I truly felt, to admit that I still

cared deeply for him, but I held back.

Instead, I redirected the conversation back to the topic of Lucas. “And you'll be making it up to US. You’re going to make amends

with Lucas, and by that I mean you’re going to show him a good time,” I told him.

Timothy seemed less pleased with that suggestion. His eyebrows creased and he started rubbing absently at Duke’s belly. “Oh.”

Feeling a sense of relief, I smiled at him. “Good. I know you'll do the right thing,” I said, genuinely believing in him.

As much as I wanted to break character and console him, I knew that sticking to the plan was essential. “This Saturday,” I said

firmly. “You'll meet with him Saturday and make things right.”

Timothy looked at me, his eyes filled with a mixture of sorrow and gratitude. “All right. I'll open up my schedule.”

My heart wavered at his sincerity, but I kept up the act. “Don’t thank me yet,” I said, trying to sound stern. “Apologizing is just the

first step.”

He nodded firmly. “I'll do whatever it takes to make things right, Evie. I promise.”

I couldn't help but smile at how determined he look.

After spending I eventually excused myself, citing a prior

Some time with ..

315)

commitment. As I left Timothy’s apartment, I couldn’t help but feel conflicted. Part of me wanted to spend more time with him, to

explore this “friendship” business, but another part of me knew I had to be careful not to get too attached.

Walking back to my own apartment, I couldn’t shake the feeling of uncertainty. I knew I needed to sort through my emotions and

figure out what I truly wanted before things became even more complicated. The ball was in my court, and I needed to make a

decision, no matter how difficult it might be.

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