The Hockey Star’s Remorse

Chapter 167
I had been peacefully lost in the pages of a book when the tranquility was
shattered by the sound of my door slamming open. Startled, I looked up to find
Aria bursting into my room, her face flushed with excitement, and her chest.
heaving with anticipation.
“Evie!” Aria cried, her voice tinged with a manic energy that I couldn't ignore. “You
won't believe it!”
I bookmarked my book, setting it aside, and turned to her, concern etched across
my face. “What's wrong, Aria? You look like you've seen a ghost.”
She didn’t bother with pleasantries. “The holiday market is coming back to town
this Saturday!”
I furrowed my brows, my mind racing to make sense of the news. “Holiday
market?”
Aria's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as she spoke, her words tumbling out in a
rush. “They used to set up different shops around town during this time of the
year, but they stopped years ago! I guess someone took over the funding
because. now they're coming back and we can’t miss it!"
Her infectious excitement began to wear me down, and I couldn't help but smile.
despite my reservations. The idea of revisiting the holiday market, a place filled.
with cherished
admit, it sounds intrigu from Childhood, was enticing. “Okay, okay, Aria. I'll
admit, it sounds intriguing. But remember, it disappeared for a reason, and that
reason might still be there.”
Aria waved her hand dismissively, her enthusiasm undeterred. “Oh, don’t be such
a worrywart, Evie! It's just one day, and it'll be so much fun! We can't let this
opportunity pass us by.”
As I watched her, I couldn't help but be drawn in by her excitement. Aria had
always been the spontaneous one, dragging me into adventures I would never
have dared on my own. She was the embodiment of living in the moment,
something I had forgotten how to do. Perhaps it was time for a change.
With a sigh, I gave in to her infectious enthusiasm. “Alright, Aria, you win. I'll go to
the holiday market with you on Saturday.”
0
You won't regret it, Evie! It's going to be amazing!”
So the ila ught hug.
The day finally arrived, and Aria practically dragged me out of bed with the
enthusiasm of a child on Christmas morning. She had insisted we wear matching
scarves that she had bought herself, very much giving in to the holiday cheer.
As we approached the entrance to the market, the air was alive with the scent of
freshly baked goods and the sound of laughter. The familiar twinkle of lights hung
from every stall, casting a warm glow over the scene. It was as if time had stood
still, and I couldn’t help but be swept up in the nostalgia.
Avria's eyes sparkled with delight as she surveyed the scene. “Evie, isn’t it
beautiful? It's just like I remember.”
I nodded, a smile tugging at my lips. “It's gorgeous.”
We strolled through the market, taking in the sights and sounds. There were
stalls selling handmade ornaments, artisanal chocolates, and intricate wooden
toys. The laughter of children echoed through the air as they rode the carousel,
their faces lit up with joy.
As we passed a booth selling hot cocoa, Aria grabbed my arm excitedly. “The hot
cocoa was always amazing! Wanna get some?”
I nodded, my heart warming at her excitement. “Let's get some.”
We stood in line, the anticipation building with each passing minute. Aria chatted
animatedly with the vendor, who had a twinkle in his eye as he ladled the rich,
steaming cocoa into two Styrofoam cups. As he handed them to us, he winked
and said, “On the house, ladies. Welcome back to the market.”
Aria and I exchanged surprised glances before thanking him profusely. It seemed
that everyone in town was just as thrilled as we were to have the market return.
We found a quiet bench to sit on, sipping our hot cocoa and watching the world
go by. Aria leaned in, her voice filled with wonder. “Evie, I can’t believe we almost
missed this. I know you've probably never been, but it's a day worth.
remembering.”
I couldn't help but smile. “You're right. This was exactly what we needed.”
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Chapter 167
After a few extra sips of cocoa, we were back on our feet and wandering through
the stalls once more. The collections were on the expensive side, so I kept my
observation strictly hands—off.
Aria, on the other hand, was practically bouncing with excitement as we
approached a booth selling handmade ornaments. “Evie, look at these! They're
beautiful!”
I nodded, admiring the delicate craftsmanship. As she drooled over the different.
designs, I glanced around at the different vendors. My heart nearly stopped
beating when I saw a familiar face amongst the crowd, lingering just a few feet
away.
Timothy was standing by a booth adorned with a beautifully crafted model train
set, his eyes fixed on it with a childlike fascination. As it zoomed through the tiny
little city, likely meant to emulate our own, I found myself entranced by his
interest in something so small yet detailed. It made me mourn the gift he'd given
me, now reduced to broken glass.
When I looked back at his face, I was stunned to find that he was looking right
back at me, his hazel eyes wide with wonder. I turned away, pretending to
occupy myself with the ornaments before eventually abandoning that stall
altogether and drifting along with the crowd.
“Evie?”
He was already by my side, following my pace before I could go any further. I
turned to face him, my heart racing, and forced a smile. “Timothy? I didn’t expect
to see you here.”
He chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners in a way that had always made my
heart weak. “I could say the same about you. I never thought they'd have another
holiday market after so long. I'm enjoying the festivities.”
I nodded absently. He still hadn't seen the email, likely still diligent about waiting.
for some free time in his schedule. I could just tell him to his face, but he looked
like he was enjoying himself at the moment.
At this point, perhaps it was best that it looked like a complete stranger had sent
them. I'd kept it from him for too long, and my guilt was growing by the second.
“So, how have you been, Timothy?" I asked, trying to break the silence.
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Chapter 167
He shrugged, his expression distant. “Same old, same old, I guess.”
There was so much I wanted to say to him, so much I wanted to explain, but I
didn’t know how to broach the subject.
Timothy's gaze kept drifted back to the model train set, and he nodded in its
direction, “I used to have one of those as a kid.”
I lifted an eyebrow. “Really?”
His eyes lingered on the train set for a moment longer before he turned back to
me, a wistful smile on his face. “They were pretty expensive, so I saved up
enough money to get my own. I could barely take my eyes off of it whenever it
would chug around like that.”
I cracked a smile. “You could still get one, you know. Treat yourself.”
Timothy chuckled softly, shaking his head. “Nah, I'm too old for that now.”
I wanted to reach out to him, to tell him that it was never too reach for the thing
that you want...or the person that you want, but the words caught in my throat.
I mustered up the courage to address the elephant in the room. “Timothy, I never
congratulated you on your engagement and pregnancy. I should have said
something sooner.”
Timothy's smile widened, and he reached out to pat my shoulder, then let his.
hand linger. “It's alright, Evie. You don’t need to. But I appreciate the sentiment.”
“Oh.” I felt more relieved than what was probably appropriate. “I just figured...”
Suddenly, Timothy's gaze shifted, and he pointed towards the center of the
square. “Look, the light show is about to start. It's the best part.”
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I followed his gaze and saw a
massive tree adorned with
thousands of ale fights standing
5 if the centefof he square. As we

atched, the lights began to flash in
time with the music, creating a
mesmerizing display of dancing
colors. The content is on
Novelxo.org! Read the latest
chapter there!
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The sky above the tree erupted in a
burst of brilliant fireworks, their
vibrant colors. ERO eaihitly

e
ina brebintaking isplay. Timothy
and I stood side by side, our eyes
fixed on the spectacle above us, lost
in the beauty of the moment. The
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the latest chapter there!
For a brief, fleeting instant, the world around us faded away, and it was just
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A
Timothy and me, sharing a moment of wonder and awe.
For a fleeting instant, our fingertips brushed against each other, a touch so brief
that it felt like a whispered secret. We both jerked back as if shocked, our eyes.
locking for a moment before we averted our gaze.
Just then, Aria appeared, holding a tray of pretzel dogs. “Hey, Evie! I lost track of
you. Look what I found!”
Avria’s cheerful voice shattered the spell of the moment, and I couldn't help but
feel a pang of regret as I watched Timothy step back.
Avria’s eyes widened in shock as she saw Timothy standing beside me. “Timothy?
What are you doing here?”
Timothy seemed caught off guard by the question, his expression briefly clouded
with uncertainty. “l was just heading out, and I ran into Evie here.”
Avria’s curiosity was palpable as she looked between us. “Oh.”
Timothy nodded, his gaze shifting uncomfortably. “Yeah. It was nice seeing you
both.”
With a polite nod, Timothy excused himself and walked away, disappearing into
the crowd. Aria turned to me, her eyes filled with curiosity and a hint of mischief.
“So, Evie, what was that all about?”
1 sighed, my heart heavy with conflicting emotions. “Evidently he likes the holiday
market too.”
Avria’s grin widened, and she gave me a knowing look. “Uh—huh.”
1 rolled my eyes, feeling a wave of frustration wash over me. “Aria, it's not like
that. We were just talking.”
She shrugged, her expression teasing. “Sure, Evie, whatever you say.”
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As we continued to explore the
p
market, I couldn't help but feel torn
about what had just NaRpence, The
ioucheg pesaa Bic but they had
at Me eeling embarrassingly
flustered. It felt strange, like I was
emotionally perusing with another
i knowing that th

woman's man knowing that those
two hardly liked each other to begin
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Read the latest chapter there!
with.