Page 74 of Frozen Flames

We’re in my room, all of us on my bed like this is a slumber party.

Except it’s not. This ispainful.

“Show him what he’s missing out on,” Audrey says.

“Hmm, I’m not sure that’s the best idea,” my mom chimes in. “He might not mind using Claire in the meantime.”

Audrey shakes her head. “Nah, Mom, he really likes Claire. It’s obvious.”

A few more tears fall down my face, and my mom wipes them away one by one. “Yes, maybe, but he lovesher,” I mutter.

“Oh, sweetie.” My mom sighs as I sit up and grab the bowl of popcorn. “Life and love, especially love, can be messy. But it’s beautiful too, I promise.”

“How would you know?” my sister asks boldly.

My mom laughs. “I dated a few men before your father. And after I birthed you two, I felt a different kind of love—the most powerful one I’ve ever experienced.”

“How can I even love someone I’ve never dated? It doesn’t make sense to me,” I say, more to myself.

I knew I loved him when I wanted him to work things out with Gemma if it made him happy.

“It’s up to you, Claire.” My mom comforts me. “There’s no guarantee that things will work out with his girlfriend. But if they do, how much heartache are you willing to put up with, especially if it affects your career?”

“If she acts cold toward him, he’ll realize what he’s missing out on. You didn’t see the way he looks at her, Mom,” Audrey says, reinforcing her point.

“Perhaps.” My mom stares at me. “I just don’t want you to get hurt the way I did.”

“I know.” I smile at her, holding on to her arm.

Audrey’s shoving popcorn into her mouth. “Step one: act cold. Step two: watch him grovel at your feet.” She wiggles her eyebrows, and we all laugh at her silliness.

I’m so lucky to have these women in my life.

We end up watchingThePrincess Diaries 2: Royal Engagementuntil I start getting ready for bed, feeling much better than I did earlier.

I’m glad I opened up to my family.

It was hard keeping thissituationwith Harvey a secret. Not that I told them everything, but still. The hardest thing was acting like his words didn’t bother me today when I realized how heartbroken he was because of Gemma.

After showering and blow-drying my hair, I stare at myself in the mirror, noticing my red eyes. I look sad. Something love shouldn’t do to someone before they even date the other person.

Maybe Audrey’s right.

I can’t have him. I want him to try with Gemma. But he can’t try his hand with me also in the meantime.

I straighten my posture.

It’s time I act professional. Let him do his thing with Gemma while I focus on myself.

“Claire…hi,” Harvey says when he sees me.

“How are you?” He looks taken aback, no doubt by my tone of voice.

It’s nothing personal, but I know, deep down, that if I don’t reel in my feelings for him now, they’ll grow and grow with uncontrollable fervor.

And leaving this job is the last thing I want. The pay is good for a postgrad student, and I’d like to have at least one year of experience on my résumé.

Still, I also know that I don’t care about anything as much as I care about Harvey. And that must stop because Gemma’s the one who gets to come home to him every night and be with him.

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