Page 15 of At the Edge with You

Did I imagine how I felt back then, or is this just a one-off? No one really touches me now, but he didn’t hesitate. That’s not true, though, because when Chad kissed me the other day, I didn’t get aroused; I wanted to wash off his kiss. It’s always been different with Jett, though. We had a connection, but I chalkedit up to us skating together. However, it’s been twenty years, and he only had to hold my hips for me to feel that connection once again.

What does that even mean?

I’m so caught up in my thoughts, I don’t know what’s going on when my name is called.

I look up to Jami, our family lawyer, who is holding out a letter to me. Confused, I glance around the room, where my family and Jett are seated. Mom and Dad are on the love seat to the left, Dad holding Mom’s hand, matching looks of annoyance on their faces. It’s normal for them to look like that when I’m in the room. I ignore them before I glance at Kitty where she sits in a black wingback chair like the one I’m sitting in, her legs crossed, her eyes on me expectantly. She looks so damn sad, and it shatters my heart. Then I settle my eyes on Jett. He’s sitting with one ankle on his knee, his suit pants tight along his thighs, pulling up a bit to show off his green socks that have little hockey sticks all over them. His jacket is unbuttoned, strained along his shoulders and his tie looks as if it’s strangling his neck. He’s so much bigger than I remember. He’s always been tall, but now, he’s all rugged and thick.

Well, there goes my clit throbbing again.

What the hell is wrong with me?

I tear my gaze from his dark-brown eyes to look back at Jami. She’s still holding the letter out to me, waiting not so patiently before I finally get up and take it from her. The moment my eyes fall on the handwriting, my chest aches. It’s just my name, but it’s in my grandpa’s handwriting.

“This one is for you, Jett.”

She holds an envelope out to Jett, and unlike how I took forever to get mine, he’s out of his seat to grab it. She has one for Kitty and then my dad. “He asks that you all wait until you’re alone to read the letters.”

I cross my legs as I run my fingers along the messy handwriting of my name. I’m unsure what his words will say, but I know they’ll be tough to read. I almost don’t want to read them. Maybe if I don’t, none of this will be real. I swallow past the lump in my throat as Jami starts to go over the assets that are left to Kitty, and then what my dad and mom will take over in Grandpa’s place. When I hear the amount of money he left me, I feel nothing. He always threw money at me, so I’m not surprised.

But Jami isn’t done.

“There are stipulations to the inheritance, Fable.”

I don’t want the money, honestly, but in reality, I could use it to open my own rink. To start my own legacy. I always thought the Ice Thistle would be mine. Given that Jett is here, though, and after what my mom said, I assume it’s being left to him. It’s fair; he’s been here when I haven’t. I want him to have it. He’s worked for it, and I haven’t. Plus, it’s in the place my mom is, so I’ll open my own in Canada.

“This includes you, Mr. Cook.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Jett sit up straighter, his brows drawing in. He runs his fingers over the neatly groomed hair along his jaw and asks, “How so?”

Jami looks very uncomfortable as she opens the file and exhales. “For Fable to get her inheritance, she has to stay in Thistlebrook for a year and help run the Ice Thistle alongside Jett Cook.”

She’s met with silence that I guess she assumes means she should continue.

“Ms. Winthrop will own half of the Ice Thistle for a year and help grow the skating department. She will work alongside Mr. Cook to make the Ice Thistle bigger and better than ever. After the year is up, Mr. Cook will take over one hundred percent of the Ice Thistle, and Ms. Winthrop will be given her inheritance.”

I’m stunned, and when I glance around the room, Kitty and my parents look the same.

But Jett… Well, he’s livid.

“Those are not the terms that we agreed on, Phillip and I,” he seethes, his whole body shaking with anger. “I was told I would take over. That it would be mine.” He looks back at my father. “I was promised that.”

Dad throws up his hands, and I’m totally confused by the exchange. I look back to Jami as she swallows, her face tighter than any amount of Botox could provide. “He changed this a little over six months ago, and the letters he has written to you contain his reasoning.”

Jett just blinks. “I don’t give a fuck what the letter says. The Ice Thistle is mine! I’ve run it alongside him for fifteen years. Kitty!”

Kitty looks stricken as she holds out her hands. “Jett, I don’t know what is happening. That’s not what he told me he planned to do.”

Jett comes out of his seat. “She doesn’t even live here!”

He’s not wrong, and the hurt look on his face leaves me breathless. “It’s fine. I don’t want the money. The Ice Thistle is Jett’s.”

Jami winces, looking down at the file in front of her, as Dad says, “Now, Fable. Let’s not be hasty. You can do a lot for our town, for our program.”

“I don’t live here. I don’t want to be here.”

I notice Kitty wiping away tears as Jett says, “I don’t want you to be out the money.”

Before I can answer, though, Jami’s voice fills the space between us. “If the terms are not met, not only does Ms. Winthrop forfeit her inheritance, but the Ice Thistle will be awarded to Richie Winthrop.”

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