Page 23 of Heart on Ice

“Of course, thank you. I don’t know how I’m going to repay you for your kindness.”

I want to throw up seeing these two be nice to each other.

“There’s one condition,” Harper adds.

“Anything,” Pierre answers quickly.

“Take Issy, she’s been working hard, and I think she needs to get out of the city.”

Excuse me. Did I hear her correctly? “No,” I shout at Harper.

“Yes.” She smirks

“Fuck you, Harper. I agreed to him staying for the week, and I agreed he could bring his dog there, but I am not jumping on the plane and going to pick it up. You have just increased my workload,” I yell at my friend.

“That’s my condition,” she tells me.

That is some bullshit. “That’s not fair. You’re being a real bitch you know.”

“I know.” Harper grins.

“You can work from the plane,” Meadow adds.

“Stay out of this,” I snap at her.

“I can rent my own, Issy, you don’t have to come,” Pierre says.

I throw my hands up in the air. “How am I now the bad guy? This is so unfair. Come on, let’s go get the fucking dog and whatever else you need from your home,” I shout as I stomp out of the room. I will not cry. I will not cry.

“Oh hey, Issy.” Felix grins as he steps inside Harper’s townhouse, looking all sweaty.

“Fuck you,” I says as I push past him. He looks confused.

“Issy, wait,” Pierre says.

“What’s going on?” Felix asks his brother.

“Don’t worry about it,” Pierre tells him. He grabs my arm and pulls me back to him.

“Don’t touch me,” I yell at him.Don’t cry.My emotions are all over the place right now. This has been one messed-up morning.

“Issy.”

“Don’t,” I warn him.

He rubs the back of his neck, he’s nervous. “I’m not trying to complicate your life.”

“Well, you are,” I snap at him as a ball of stress sinks its teeth into my shoulder blades.

“I don’t deserve your help, but I sure as hell appreciate it and you right now,” he says.

Damn him. That was nice. I ignore him and walk out of Harper’s home toward the car, and Pierre follows. He gets in the car with me, and we are silent all the way back to my apartment.

It’s not until we are back inside that he finally speaks again.

“Issy.”

“Yes,” I answer irritated.

---