Page 43 of Love on Ice

“I won’t hear you talk like that. All I know is you’re pretty awesome. And maybe they can’t handle that.”

“You said something nice about me,” I say through a stuttered breath.

“I’m not going to kick you when you’re down.”

“Mom and Dad are going to be disappointed.” I sigh.

“I’ll deal with them. Want me to come over with champagne and ice cream, I know that cheers you up,” Sam says.

“I’m not at home.”

“Where are you?”

“I skipped town after it happened and headed to The Paradise Club resort.” Silence falls between us.

“Ew. Don’t want to know. But good on you.”

This makes me laugh. “Thanks. Things were going great, and I was feeling good until this bullshit.”

“Something else will happen, and it will all be forgotten,” Sam tries to reassure me.

“They painted me out to be some scarlet woman in the article, Sam. Listing off my long list of boyfriends and accounting for how many cheated on me. My personal life is being used as fucking clickbait.”

“I know. It sucks. What can I do to fix it?” Sam asks.

“Nothing. You can’t do anything. I’m the laughingstock of New York society.” I wipe away the tears that start to fall again.

“You’re not, I can assure you.”

“Kimmy said you guys are heading to the South Pacific on a scouting mission,” I ask, changing the subject.

“Oh, did she now?”

“Yeah. Where was my invite?”

“We’ve pushed it back but if you want to come, come. Honestly, I was trying to cheer Nate up, get his mind off seeing Camryn again.”

“They’re going to get back together. Once they see each other again I guarantee that will be it.”

“I hold out hope for him,” Sam says quietly. “Anyway, if you need anything let me know.”

“I’ll be home in a couple of days. Fingers crossed this saga will be done by then. Mom’s gala is coming up and she doesn’t need this negative press.”

“I know. But it’s not your fault and she will understand,” Sam reassures me. “Chin up, Harpie, I’ll see you when you get back.” With that, he’s gone.

A large hand slides over my shoulder and gives it a squeeze. “Are you okay?”

I look up at Felix and smile. “I will be.”

16

FELIX

I’ve googled the hell out of Harper’s ex the last couple of days of our stay in Paradise. What kind of man goes to the press like a squealing pig and tries to defame her like he did? He looks like every other clean-cut, asshole, finance guy in New York. He comes from family money, probably has a pin dick, and his socials are full of thirst traps. I don’t know if he had any photos of Harper before their breakup or if he’s deleted them since, but he looks very much single. I found some photos of them together at events, Harper looking her stunning, bubbly self and her ex looking like he would rather be anywhere else. It’s not weird googling your friend’s ex, is it?It is when you’re sleeping with her and trying to work out what her type is.As a friend.Liar.I have a crush on Harper, I’m not going to deny that, but she isn’t interested in dating, and neither am I.But if she was?I’m not going to answer hypothetical questions.That’s a yes.That’s a, it doesn’t matter. As we’ve talked about before, neither one of us is ready to go through dating someone again.Why the hell am I arguing with myself?

“Can you believe how quickly this week has flown?” Harper says, taking a seat beside me as we wait for the boat to take us back to reality.

“It’s felt like forever and yet feels like a day,” I say.

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