Page 21 of Love on Ice

“My lawyer thinks it’s better to give her what she wants, get her to sign an NDA, and leave her to her new life.”

“That’s messed up, Felix,” Harper says, reaching out and placing her hand over mine. “She was the one cheating on you with your best friend and teammate. Do you think she’s going to do something if you say no?” she asks.

I shrug. “I don’t know. But I’m guessing she might if I don’t sign. Do you think she would? I mean, it’s in the press already that they had an affair. Do you think they can twist that to make me out to be the bad guy, not them?”

Harper is silent for a moment. “Yes, I do. Especially if she has already sought legal counsel. You don’t do that unless you mean business. People will do and say anything for money. What I don’t understand is what your ex-friend thinks about this. Can’t imagine he would be too thrilled to hear about what she is doing. Because if she is going to do it to you, she will eventually do it to him,” she explains. This was my thought initially when I read it. “What I never understood was why she went for him over you. You seemed to have more star quality and the limelight more than her new man.”

“They were high school sweethearts, which I never knew. They broke up when he got a scholarship halfway across the country.”

“Oh,” Harper states.

“He is also the new captain next year.”

Harper nods. “Look, you don’t have to listen to me, but I wouldn’t give into her demands. Why the hell should she profit off your hard work, especially when she has a new man who can finance her life? Issy isn’t going to allow her to derail your career. Plus, now you’ve met me, and I’m the best PR person in the world. So, she can try to paint you as the bad guy, but I won’t let her do it.” Wow. Wasn’t expecting that. “I’ve seen this happen a million times. Depending on her moral levels, she might try to make out that you were emotionally abusive, that she sought comfort in the arms of your best friend and teammate because he was her protector, or some bullshit like that.”

Panic slides over my body. “You think she would do that? I’ve never emotionally or physically abused her. I would never do that.”

Harper’s hand reaches out again. “Of course you wouldn’t, I’m just giving you the worst-case scenario. She might imply you cheated while away, have her new man back her up in her claims.”

“I’m not a cheat. I hate cheaters. My dad was a cheater, and he destroyed my mom over it. I would never want to do that to anyone.”

“Cheaters are assholes. But the media doesn’t care about the truth, they care about the salacious gossip.”

“I don’t want to fight. Maybe it’s easier to give her the house. I’m already on thin ice with the bosses at The Mavericks, if this turns into a scandal, they will cancel my contract.”

“I get it. I’m no lawyer, but you have to do what is right for you. When do you have to get back to your ex with an answer?”

“Her lawyer said I have a week.”

“A week? Gee, okay. Leave it with me,” she says as she gets up from her chair and walks inside to grab her phone. I watch as she walks out furiously typing on it.

“What are you doing?”

“Helping you. Look, it’s good to have a little insurance policy of your own up your sleeve during negotiations. I bet your teammate isn’t the only person she has slept with since you have been together. Yeah, there’s the whole we were small-town high school sweethearts, but I call bullshit,” she says. “I know someone who can do a little digging on your ex and friend, help level the playing field,” she explains before placing her phone back down on the table.

“Is that legal?”

“Totally. Issy even uses them,” she adds, reassuring me.

“You think she cheated on me with more people?” I ask.

“Who knows. Maybe the bullshit they are telling everyone is true, that they still loved each other or maybe she’s a gold digger. I’m leaning toward the latter because if it was true love, wouldn’t she just want to move on with him and leave everything between the two of you behind?” Harper is making valid points.

“I honestly don’t know anymore. I never thought either of them would do what they did.”

“Betrayal sucks,” she says, giving me a sad smile. “I’ve dated a lot of cheaters over the years, unfortunately.”

“I don’t understand how anyone could cheat on you.”

“Same back at you. I’ve heard a myriad of reasons from I’m too independent. That I’m too rich and that emasculates them.” My eyes bug out at that. “You know the whole,‘you work too much’to‘you have a public profile’and they don’t want to make it onto Page Six. Then there’s the‘I know too many people’and I’m too social. It’s my fricken job,” she says through gritted teeth. “Also heard‘I’ve dated too many high-profile men.’” I shake my head as she keeps listing off their ridiculous excuses.“That they didn’t think I’m wife material because they didn’t think I would give up my independent life to get married and have a family. I’m pretty sure I can still be me and be a mom.”

“Men have actually said all that to you?” She nods. “That’s insane.”

“I can’t believe I dumped all that on you, sorry,” she says seemingly embarrassed.

I reach out and cup her face. “Those men never deserved you.” I lean in and kiss her cheek tenderly. “It speaks more about them than you.” I kiss her other cheek. “I haven’t known you long, but I think you’re awesome and that’s not me trying to get into your pants,” I tell her as my hands drop from her face. “I hope there will be another chance …” Harper bites her lip contemplating my thought. “… but if it was a one-time thing then that’s cool. Doesn’t change the fact that I still want to hang out with you.”

Harper seems genuinely surprised by my comment. “You’d still want to hang out with me if there was no sex?”

---