Chapter 247

As I exited the office building, the crisp evening air greeted me, carrying the scent of rain and distant traffic. Parked neatly by the curb was Timothy, leaning against his car, his silhouette outlined against the fading daylight. He looked up as I approached, a small smile gracing his lips.

"Hey," Timothy greeted, pushing himself off the car. "Fancy seeing you here."

I returned the smile, feeling a faint flush creep onto my cheeks. "What are you doing here?"

Timothy shrugged casually. "Thought I'd swing by and offer you a ride home. If that's okay with you, of course."

I hesitated for a moment, grateful but also feeling a pang of guilt. "You don't have to do that, Timothy. You have your own stuff to take care of."

He shook his head, his expression earnest. "Nonsense. I’ve got time. Hop in."

With a small nod, I slipped into the passenger seat of his car. The familiar scent of Timothy's cologne mixed with the faint aroma of leather greeted me as I settled in. He started the engine, and we pulled away from the curb, merging into the flow of traffic.

“How was work? Easy day?” he asked.

I sighed heavily. “Easy enough. Of course, there were the usual headaches. How was hockey practice?"

Timothy's eyes lit up with enthusiasm. "It was good. We had some intense drills. I've got a scrimmage later, though."

I chewed my lip. "You don’t need to drive me around if you have your own commitments. Especially so late."

He glanced at me briefly, a reassuring smile playing on his lips. "Evie, don't worry about it. I'm happy to help. Besides, making sure you get home safely is important to me."

His words sent a flutter through my chest, and I found myself stealing glances at his profile as we navigated through the traffic. The car hummed softly as we drove, the occasional sound of raindrops tapping against the windows creating a soothing rhythm.

A sudden idea sparked in my mind. "Hey, do you think... could I maybe come watch your next hockey practice?"

Timothy's eyes widened in surprise, and a grin spread across his face. "Really? You want to come?"

I nodded eagerly, feeling a rush of excitement. "Yeah, if that's okay. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you in action."

"Absolutely!" Timothy replied, sounding thrilled by the idea. "I'd love to have you there."

We decided to grab a quick bite to eat before heading to the sports center. We settled onto the cozy couch in the players’ lounge, food laid out between us. Timothy playfully reached over, nabbing a few fries from my bag.

"Hey!" I exclaimed, feigning surprise.

He grinned, popping a stolen fry into his mouth. "You weren’t going to eat all those. Look at the size of your burger!"

“How small do you think my stomach is?”

“Well, according to science, it’s about as small as your fist .” He flashed me a grin. “So pretty small.”

Without warning, he leaned over and attempted to sneak another fry from my bag.

I attempted to shield my plate from his reach. "You're unbelievable!"

He threw his head back and laughed, his eyes dancing with amusement. Just when he was ready to retort, the doors burst open, startling us both. Timothy’s teammates came bustling into the lounge, and their excitement seemed to heighten when they spotted Timothy and I on the couch.

"Hey, Timmy! What's up?" one of them exclaimed, striding over to us with an infectious energy.

Timothy greeted them warmly, but his attempt at cordiality was drowned out by the enthusiastic chatter of his teammates. They glanced around, eyes landing on me, and excitement flashed across their faces.

"Whoa, is that Evie?" one of them exclaimed, eyes wide with surprise.

Before I knew it, they swarmed around our table, their curiosity piqued. Questions flew in rapid succession, each vying for attention.

"Hey, you’re running that law firm, right? Since that guy got fired."

"Timothy hasn’t stopped talking about you since you started dating. He treating you right?" this player in particular had a familiar face, and I recognized him immediately as one of Timothy’s friends. He had on a different jersey however, from Timothy’s old team.

“Hi, Ethan! He’s been sweet,” I said, patting Timothy on the cheek.

Ethan looked bewildered, and his eyes darted between Timothy and me. “You remember me?”

“Who could forget that goofy hair?” Timothy joked, ruffling Ethan’s floppy blonde hair. Ethan then punched him in the arm.

Another teammate leaned over the couch, and his eyes took me in. “Those cameras don’t do you justice. What a stunning face!”

“T-Thank you!” I exchanged a glance with Timothy, who wore a sheepish smile.

"Hey, guys, give her some room," Timothy interjected.

His plea, however, fell on deaf ears as his teammates continued their excited chatter. Their infectious energy filled the café, drawing the attention of other patrons with their loud banter.

"We just want to know a bit more about the famous Evie!"

Their persistent questions and enthusiasm were endearing, albeit overwhelming. Timothy, sensing my discomfort, eventually shieled me from them. "Alright, alright, guys. Ease up a bit, give her some space."

His stern tone finally seemed to register with his teammates. They exchanged sheepish glances and, albeit reluctantly, began to disperse.

"Sorry," one of them said with a grin. "Let’s give the love birds some space, guys."

I managed a smile, grateful for their enthusiasm. "Nice to meet you all."

As the commotion gradually subsided, Timothy's teammates dispersed throughout the lounge, their lively energy leaving a noticeable void. The air felt quieter, the chaotic energy replaced by a tranquil calm.

Timothy let out a chuckle, his eyes reflecting a mix of amusement and understanding. "Sorry about that. They can get a bit carried away."

"It's okay," I replied, smiling despite the slight lingering unease. "They seem like a fun group."

Timothy nodded, the corners of his lips quirking into a grin. "They are, but sometimes they forget how to dial it down. Wanna get out of here?"

“Sure.”

After throwing out our trash, Timothy gently guided me away from the lounge, leading me up to a large room that had a view of the whole ice rink.

"This is the club seating," Timothy explained as we settled into the cushioned chairs overlooking the rink. "I thought you might like the view from up here. It's a bit quieter too."

I gazed out at the expanse of the arena below, the ice glistening under the bright lights. "I've never been up here before. It's incredible."

Timothy's eyes lit up with enthusiasm. "You know what? I can reserve this space for you and your friends for my next game. You can enjoy the game from here."

The offer caught me off guard, a kind gesture that touched my heart. "That's really sweet of you, Timothy. Thank you. I'll definitely take you up on that."

A shy smile formed on my lips as I hesitantly voiced my thoughts. "I guess I'll have to cheer louder for you as your... um, girlfriend."

Timothy grinned, leaning in to plant a soft kiss on my cheek. "You'll be my good luck charm. I'm lucky to have you here."

Timothy reached out, his hand cupping my cheek with a tenderness that sent a shiver through me. I leaned into his hand, closing my eyes to savor the warmth that spread from his touch.

His lips brushed against mine in a soft, tentative kiss, almost asking for permission. I responded eagerly, my fingers threading through his hair as he parted my lips with his tongue.

Our lips moved together in a passionate dance, each movement sending waves of heat through me. Timothy’s arms wrapped around me, pulling me closer as if he wanted to merge our beings together. I groaned, my nails digging into his back as he nibbled at my lip.

“Tim…” I gasped as he pressed me onto the couch nearby. I was growing hot, and my clothes more constrictive, and I was all too prepared to let him take me right there.

A loud buzzer went off, and the extra lights down below flickered on. We were both breathing heavily as we parted, and Timothy stood up, extending a hand to help me up from my seat.

"Time to suit up," he said with an excited grin. "Ready to see some hockey?"

I nodded eagerly, matching his grin. "Absolutely."