Chapter 109
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.
I shrugged him off. “Timothy, I 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 I turned away from him, unable to bear the weight of his presence any longer. I 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,” I said finally.
Timothy reached out to stop me, his hand hovering over my shoulder. "Evie, please. I can’t…I can’t lose you again."
I took a deep, shuddering breath, my heart heavy with conflicting emotions. "Timothy, I need to move on. You should too."
With that, I continued walking down the hall and toward my apartment. Once I’d locked myself inside, I hurried to my laptop, my fingers trembling as I opened it. The glow of the screen was blinding as I logged in and went straight to the internet.
I opened my web browser and typed Timothy and my names into the search bar. What I 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.
I couldn't help but feel a sense of disconnect from the version of myself that was being portrayed online. It was as if I 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 career as a successful lawyer.
The universe was taunting me.
One particular site caught my eye—a chatroom dedicated to discussing Timothy and me. I 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.
I decided to join the conversation anonymously, creating a username that concealed my true identity. As I typed, my fingers danced across the keyboard, and I 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!
I bit my lip, taken aback by the passionate responses. It seemed that the fans were unwavering in their belief in our supposed romance. I needed to tread carefully.
AnonymousUser123: I'm not a hater, I 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!
I sighed, realizing that my attempt to introduce doubt had backfired. The fans' conviction in the TEVIE narrative seemed unshakable.
AnonymousUser123: I guess I 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 in
UnoCuchono6: Look at them cowering now…she thought she could destroy their love with that pathetic attempt
I closed the chatroom, feeling a mixture of frustration and sadness. It was disheartening to 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 I shut down my laptop, I couldn't help but wonder how I 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 I were living in a parallel universe, one where the lines between reality and fantasy had become hopelessly blurred.
With a heavy heart, I retreated to my bedroom, hoping that sleep would offer a short escape from the madness.
————
Timothy stood in the bustling gym, sweat dripping from his brow as he pushed his body to the limit. The rhythmic thud of sneakers on the polished floor, the clang of weights, and the hum of conversation filled the air. It was his sanctuary, a place where he could escape the chaos of his life and focus on his own strength and determination.
Amidst the rhythmic thud of sneakers on the polished floor, his phone suddenly vibrated in his gym bag. Timothy paused, a bead of sweat rolling down his temple, as he fished out his phone and saw his father's name flashing on the screen.
It was unusual for his father to call him. The silence between them was preferable, especially today of all days. He needed to release tension, and his father caused the opposite effect.
Heaving a sigh, Timothy swiped the screen to answer the call, his voice strained from exertion.
"Dad?" Timothy greeted, his breath heavy.
"Timothy, it's time we had a discussion," came Kamran Hayes’ firm and measured voice from the other end of the line. "I need you to come to my office. "
Timothy's brow furrowed in confusion. His father had always been distant, more preoccupied with his own business than with family matters. However, Timothy hadn’t expected his old man to actually develop a business in the years he’d distanced himself from the family.
Even more unusual was the notion of a "discussion" with his father, the master of evasion.
"Why?" Timothy asked, a hint of suspicion in his tone. "What's this all about?"
