Page 83 of Love on Ice

“I know, but Mom keeps asking about grandkids, and then I read shit on social media where people are telling me I’m too old because I’m dating a younger guy. I kind of wish I was seven years younger and could have met Felix then.” As soon as those words are out of my mouth, I realize what I’ve said.

“Oh. You like him.” Kimmy grins.

“It doesn’t matter. I can’t turn back the clock, so it is what it is between us.”

“Are you saying if you were seven years younger, you would give him a chance?” Kimmy asks.

“Yes.”

“If Felix makes you happy then why not see where things go?” Kimmy argues with me.

“I can’t. I’m not going to do that to myself. There is only one direction this will end, and it’s heartbreak.Mine.I’m going to enjoy our summer together and then let him go, it’s only fair,” I explain to her.

“He’s not a fish. I want you to be happy, and for me, it feels like Felix makes you happy,” Kimmy says.

“He does, but I’m being realistic, Kim. I’d rather have a great summer with him than continue and find him a year down the track with a puck bunny. I might not recover if I did.” Kimmy reaches out and holds my hand.

“I get it,” she assures me.

We’ve arrive in Paris,where we will have the bachelor and bachelorette parties for Axel and Olivia. I’m so looking forward to catching up with everyone, we have a group dinner tonight on top of the Eiffel Tower. I’m a little nervous as it’s the first time I’ve taken Felix public other than with my family stuff, I just hope my friends like him. Also, Felix has never been to Paris before, and I can’t wait to show him around one of my favorite cities.

“Oh my god, that’s the Eiffel Tower.” Felix gasps as he pushes his face against the window. “Wow.”

“Wait till you see it at night with the lights twinkling, I never get sick of looking at it.”

Felix reaches out and entwines his fingers with mine and gives me the biggest, goofiest smile. “I can’t wait to explore the city with you.” It’s so adorable how excited he is and it’s hot listening to him speak in French, too. Our driver pulls up out the front of my apartment and helps us with our luggage.

“This is yours?” He looks at me, admiring the older building.

“It’s my sanctuary away from New York. No one bothers me here, the photographers leave me alone most of the time. It’s freeing.” We hold hands and enter the building. The foyer is marble with iron ornate handrails and red carpet running up the spiral staircase. “There’s only a small elevator that is mainly for luggage or groceries, otherwise, we have to walk up the threeflights of stairs to the penthouse,” I explain to him, while the driver loads up our luggage into the antique elevator. I forget how much of a workout it is when you are here, but we make it to the top. Felix opens the elevator and pulls out our luggage while I open the door to my apartment. “It’s not very big, only three bedrooms, but the views are to die for,” I explain as I push open the door and walk in. We are greeted by polished wooden chevron floors and white walls with chandeliers. I tried to keep a modern, romantic Parisian feel to it with linens, dusty pink velvet lounges, gold gilding, and crystal. It’s very feminine and girly because this is my safe space. I excitedly pull him through the apartment and show him the light filled windows that look over the Seine and Eiffel Tower.

“No way, this is your view.” He gasps as he stares at the iconic building.

“It gets better.” I grin, grabbing his hand again and taking him to another spiral staircase as I haul him up to the rooftop balcony.

“Holy shit,” he curses as he stands on top of the roof, spins around, and takes in every aspect of Paris. The gorgeous grey zinc roofs, the white sandstone buildings, even the honking of the horns, and city noise are not as aggressive as it is back home.

“I love it here.” I smile as I watch him awe-struck by everything.

“I get it. It reminds me of Quebec but different, I can’t explain it.”

“If Quebec looks like this then I need to go.”

Felix looks down and smiles. “You do, maybe we could when we get back. I’d really love to show you my home.” I can hear the sincerity in his voice.

“I’d like that,” I tell him as I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him on top of a roof, in Paris, overlooking the Eiffel Tower. I don’t think you can get any more romantic than that.

28

FELIX

“Would you stop being nervous, you look gorgeous,” I tell Harper as we wait for the driver to arrive to take us to dinner with our friends. She, of course, looks stunning dressed in a silk strapless powder blue evening dress that is covered in tiny golden butterflies all over it. Her golden hair is cascading down her back like silken threads.

“I know, it’s just … these are my friends, and I want them to like you.”

“I think you forget that I know the Dirty Texas guys,” I remind her.

“That’s right, you do. Okay, everything is going to be fine,” she says, relaxing her shoulders. I wrap my arm around her shoulders and pull her into me.

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