Page 61 of Love on Ice

“Don’t worry. She’s not coming. Boys’ trip,” he yells.

“Sounds good.”

“You could get a bit more excited,” he teases. “Race ya to the end,” he says, punching me in the gut before running off.

“Hey,sweetie, how are things going? I haven’t heard from you in a while. I’ve been worried,” My mom says, I can feel the guilt trip a mile away.

“I know, Mom, and I’m sorry, just been busy.”

“With a new girlfriend?”

“Kind of, I guess.” I hate lying to her.

“And of all the people Harper Rose. Doesn’t her father sponsor your new team?” she asks.

“Yes.”

“And your brother told me she’s Issy’s best friend, too,” she adds. Oh, did he now?

“Yeah, she is.”

“And he said something about ex-boyfriend drama. You were involved in an altercation, and it made the news,” she asks, sounding worried.

“It sounds worse than it was. I was dropping Harper home, and her ex came out of nowhere yelling at her. I wasn’t going to let her take that kind of abuse from him.”

“Of course you wouldn’t, but I just worry about this on the back of you know all your other things,” she says delicately.

“Yeah. I regret how I handled my breakup with Cynthia. But I’m thankful for Harper for healing my broken heart,” I confess to her.

“Aw. So, you like this girl? When will I get to meet her,” she asks.

“Things are still new.”

“I know, but I just want my baby boy to be happy, like Pierre is,” she says.

I roll my eyes. “I have plenty of time, Mom. I don’t know what will happen with Harper.” She hates my guts, and I’m trying to earn back her trust, but other than that, everything is fine.

“Okay, message received. I love you, sweetheart. When are you coming to visit me?”

“Soon. I promise. Don’t forget we will be in Italy together for Pierre’s wedding, so I’ll see you then,” I remind her.

“That feels like forever, sweetheart. I just want to give you a hug,” she tells me.

“I know. I miss you. Love you,” I tell her.

“Love you, too. I’m here if you ever need to talk,” she tells me.

“I know.”

Sam: Change of plan. Nate is going to meet us there.

Sam: But Harper’s shown up with Kimberly.

Felix: I thought you said she wasn’t coming.

Sam: Yeah. I thought she wasn’t. But here she is.

Fuck.I should turn around. This is a bad idea.

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