Page 15 of Heart on Ice

“That didn’t go so well.” Felix grimaces as the girls leave the room.

“Didn’t think it would,” I tell him. Especially not after what I did to her at her father’s wake. She hated me before it, she sure as hell hates me after that.

“I think Issy is going to be the least of your problems this week.” My brother chuckles as Harper walks back into the kitchen with a platter of food.

“Help yourselves, I have to smooth things over with Issy,” she says, grabbing the bottle of champagne from the bucket.

“Maybe I shouldn’t stay here, I don’t want to cause Issy any more problems than I already have,” I tell her.

“This is the best place for you. There is no way anyone will look for you here. Once the shock has worn off, everything will be fine.”

“Why are you doing this for me, Harper?” I ask her.

Harper looks over at my brother before looking back at me. “She never got over you, and I want her to. It’s time.”

Oh.

And with that, Harper disappears.

Felix gives me a sad smile. “That sounded worse than how she meant it,” he tries to reassure me.

“Oh no, Harper meant it,” I tell him as I dig into the fruit platter she placed down.

“She’s looking out for her friend, from what Harper has told me, Issy’s never really dated long term, I guess since you,” my brother explains to me.

“Really?”

“Yeah. I mean, she’s dated, but no one special.”

“And you think that’s because of me?” I ask, popping a strawberry in my mouth.

Felix shrugs as he starts feasting on the food, too. “You’re her baggage. Just like Harper’s ex is her’s, Cynthia is mine, and now Kitty is going to be yours.”

“The difference is, I don’t know if I’m that devastated about Kitty. I feel more upset at Bill and what that all means for my future than losing the love of my life. What the hell do you think that says?” I ask.

“That you had a lucky escape.” I think he’s right. “Were things that bad between you and Kitty?”

“Yeah. They weren’t great.”

5

ISABELLE

“Babe, I’m sorry about springing all this on you this morning, but truly, I did think it was the best place for him. His life is about to implode and not in a good way either,” Harper explains as we sit in my bed, sipping our champagne while the boys stay downstairs.

“You could have stuck him in one of your hotels, the security would be better.”

Harper sighs. “You’re right, I could have but if I’m being honest, I’m worried about him being by himself during this time.”

“You think he’ll hurt himself?”

She shakes her head. “No, but shit is going to start hitting the fan, we won’t be able to contain the news for much longer. And I kind of need someone to keep an eye on him.”

“And you think that’s me?”

“Honestly, no, but like I said in my mind I thought it was a brilliant idea. I now know it’s not.”

“What happened at the wedding?” I ask her.

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