Page 33 of Heart on Ice

“Do you think Bill’s wife knows about Kitty?” I ask him.

Pierre shrugs. “I don’t think so.”

“Unless they have an arrangement,” I add.

“Michelle doesn’t seem like the type that is into sharing, but who knows what happens behind closed doors.”

“Bill is a billionaire. This kind of scandal could tank his company’s stocks, also destabilize his team, and of course, implode his family. He has more to lose than you do right now. The video you have of him and Kitty is leverage, and if he’s smart, he will take what you are offering. I’ve reached out to The Mavericks personally to let them know that you want to move from South Dakota to Manhattan to play with your brother. They are interested, but they need to discuss it. Is there another team you would be interested in playing for if The Mavericks don’t work out? I mean, we have the overseas leagues like Scandinavia or Russia?”

“I might as well retire if they are my options,” he grumbles.

“And what happens if you do have to retire? What is the next step?” I ask him.

“Coaching, that’s where I want to go next,” he advises.

“Want me to put that on the table too with The Mavericks?” I ask.

“Sure. But it would be Plan B. I’m not ready to retire, and it certainly isn’t like this. I have another cup in me and that’s what I want to do. If I can do it with my brother, then that would be the icing on the cake for me.”

“That would be pretty cool if you could achieve that,” I tell him.

He smiles. “It would, it’s something we always talked about growing up,” he then frowns, “unless that isn’t what he wants anymore. You said that he didn’t want to be on the same team as me.”

“Think it’s more a sibling rivalry thing. You were hard on him growing up,” I tell him.

“Because I wanted him to be the best.”

“I know, but Felix is more sensitive than you, as the baby of the family. He used to idolize you, always did, and following in your shadow his entire career has been hard on him. You are one of the greatest players in the game, and everyone automatically compares the two of you. That can be hard to live up to. Don’t forget you forged the way for him,” I explain.

“But he got in all on his own. I never helped him. You don’t think people compared me to Dad?”

“Hardly a comparison between what your father achieved and what you have. He wasn’t a champion like you. Yes, he was a good player, but that was all he was, good. Felix is in the shadow of a legend. It’s normal for everyone to compare two brothers when they play, it happens in all sports.”

“I don’t want to mess up his career. If he doesn’t want me in New York, let’s look for somewhere else,” Pierre says.

“Let’s worry about that if it happens. Felix will be okay with it, he’s probably worried about starting with a new team and you might undermine him in front of his teammates, then he’s lost their respect before he’s even started.”

“I would never,” Pierre argues.

“Not on purpose, but as a brother, you know what it’s like.”

“I get it.” He nods. “What do you honestly think about Felix and Harper dating?” he asks, changing the subject again.

“Honestly, I was weirded out by it at first, but now … seeing them together it kind of works.”

“What were you thinking, sending them to the same resort?”

“I didn’t do it on purpose. Felix should have known better than to tell you about it.”

He smirks. “Felix didn’t want to tell me, but I got it out of him, he was freaking out.”

“The place is huge, I didn’t think they would run into each other,” I explain.

His eyes widen with curiosity. “You’ve been there?”

“Yes.”

“And is that something you like doing? I mean, you went there last night, too,” he asks.

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