Page 58 of Heart on Ice

So much for working, I’ve spent most of my time online reading everyone’s reaction to Pierre’s video. It was a damn good video. Kitty is getting slammed on her socials, and she is not dealing with it well, so much so she has turned comments off on her profile. My sister walks in with her phone in her hand.

“Wow, this is insane. He did such a good job turning his profile around. This morning everyone was Team Kitty and now they are all Team PSP, which is trending,” she says, shaking her head.

“He didn’t deserve what she posted especially since it’s her fault.”

“This has backfired on her spectacularly. I also loved how he let the hockey world know he’s free too.”

“Marcus has a meeting with The Mavericks right now. He mentioned before he left that teams have been calling him enquiring about Pierre. Kitty did him a huge favor by going rogue,” I explain to her.

“That she did. How are you? You seemed quiet last night,” she asks.

“Just a lot of my mind at the moment.”

“Pierre?”

“Not everything is about him,” I snap before I realize what I’m doing.

Evelina stares at me. “Guessing it is about him.” I roll my eyes. “Talk to me. I know I was too young when you guys were dating, but I do remember the aftermath,” she states. There’s a long moment of silence before I let out a sigh.

“Fine. We keep having moments,” I confess to her.

“Moments? As inmoments,” she says, wiggling her brows.

“Yes.”

“Oh. Wow. Unexpected. I thought you weren’t interested,” she asks.

“I’m not.”

“Seems like you are.”

“There’s a physical attraction between us, I guess, but …” Urgh. I nervously move things around on my desk.

“But … last week he was supposed to be getting married in Italy, and now he is living in your home with his gorgeous dog. Plus, he’s the guy who broke your heart all those years ago.” She’s not wrong. “And you are confused by your emotions that seem to surface, not to mention the fact that he kissed you not that long ago when he shouldn’t have. Guess it makes sense now why he did that.” Again, Eve is making valid points. “And you can’t seem to let the past go, and he’s probably trying to make up for the past, and here we are.”

“Every time I look at him, I see Missy Jenkins on her knees. And the stupid wound opens again.”

Eve’s face softens as she reaches out and pats my hand. “I was not expecting you to be so open about it. That’s tough, being reminded of something so painful every time you see him. Especially if you keep havingmoments,” she says, giving me a small smile. “I’m glad you’re talking to me about this. Usually,you would go to Vi for this kind of stuff, not me.” Do I? “Now that you are asking for my advice, I don’t want to mess up, otherwise, you will never confide in me again.” That’s a little dramatic, but it’s also sweet that she wants to help me. “So, do you want to have sex with him?”

“Eve!” I gasp, surprised by her question.

“What? You said you’ve been having moments. I’m assuming they are sexual. You just said there is physical attraction still there between you both, but it’s mental which means you want to, but your brain is stopping you.” She’s not wrong.

“I don’t want a relationship with him.”

“But you want to fuck him?”

“Eve!” I say her name again.

“I’m not a kid anymore, we can talk about sex,” she says, rolling her eyes. “Pierre is hot, anyone with eyes can see that.” I don’t like the fact that she’s noticed that. “But his life has just blown up so he’s mentally not in a good spot.” All facts. “And the two of you are around each other for the first time in years, so the familiarity is still there which is confusing.” True. “And that is probably confusing you both because you don’t know how to be around each other without being sexual.” Didn’t see it like that but she makes a good point. “Why don’t you two just sleep together. It might be bad and then all that tension will go, or it might be good, and the tension will go, too.”

“That is a horrible idea,” I tell her.

“Sex is a great tension reliever, and you look tense. Do I look tense?” she teases.

“Ew, I don’t want to know about your sex life.”

“You’re jealous that I have one.” She pokes her tongue out at me. Mature. Evelina is a free spirit. Ever since the accident that ended her ice-skating career, she’s gone from this super strict Olympic hopeful to a woman who lives life to the fullest because she is happy to be alive.

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