Page 16

PIERRE

T hat was a rollercoaster of a plane ride.

The ending was unexpected, but I’ll take it.

Working back to being friends, and no funny business, I’ll take.

I’d rather have her in my life as something than nothing at all.

It was hard to hear how much my betrayal hurt her.

I knew I broke her heart, but I didn’t realize how much I changed her outlook on relationships.

I feel horrible about that. My stupidity hurt the one person in the world who didn’t deserve it.

Now that she’s giving me a kind of second chance at friendship, I’m going to show her that I’m not the dumbass she remembers.

The fact that she was willing to fly across the country to help get my dog and sort through my messages so I wouldn’t have to see them meant a lot.

I know being around me reminds her of our past, but I’m hoping we can create new memories together that will change that for her.

The car winds its way up the long driveway toward my home.

“This is huge.” Issy gasps.

“That’s what she said,” I tease, which earns me an elbow to the ribs.

“There’s so much nature, look at all the trees. I don’t know if you’ll be able to return to city life since you’ve been living here. You hardly have neighbors. I get why you were worried about Frankston now.”

“Yeah, he loves going for a run. It’s a nice home, or it was a nice home. I’m not sure how I feel, it was only last week I left it thinking my life was going one way, and now it’s taken a turn the other.”

“It’s not far to commute from Connecticut into the city or Long Island, even Jersey has nature, there are options,” Issy explains.

I called the pet sitter and said that we were missing Frankston so much that we are flying him to Italy to be with us, and that a friend was coming to collect him, and he didn’t have to wait for them to arrive. I don’t need the pet sitter asking questions.

We pull up to the main entrance and get out of the car.

I’m going to pack some things that I’ll need for the next month.

I don’t know what is going to happen with this house.

Is Kitty going to fight me on it? I bought it, the house is in my name, but can she legally try to take it?

We aren’t married, but we were engaged. This is a shit show.

I type in the code, and I can hear the patter of Frankston’s feet as I swing the door open.

His happy face is the first thing I see before he jumps right into my arms and licks my face.

I fall to the floor and roll around with him.

“Who’s my good boy? I’ve missed you, buddy. It’s so good to see you. I’m never ever leaving you ever again. You and me, buddy,” I tell him.

Once Frankston greets me, he rushes over and launches himself at Issy, who screams as my dog accosts her.

“Oh my gosh, ew, doggy slobber.” She cringes as Frankston gets her with his tongue.

“Easy boy, you need consent before doing that to a woman.” I laugh.

“And maybe dinner before digging into the main event.” Frankston shoves his nose in her crotch. Lucky bastard.

“Sorry, he’s just excited,” I tell her as I pull him away from her.

Issy laughs. “It’s okay,” she assures me. “Why don’t you show me around?”

“You want a tour?” I ask, surprised.

“Yeah.” She shrugs as if it’s a normal request.

Okay then. I show Issy around the house.

It’s very much a luxury log cabin-style home, which is most of the home vibes around here.

It’s four bedrooms, five bathrooms, a formal living room, a dining room, a great kitchen, and there’s also a beauty room for Kitty.

We then go downstairs to the basement where the cool stuff is.

I have a games room with a pool table and bar set up, a home theatre, and of course, a mini museum with all my achievements, awards, and memorabilia in it.

“This is awesome.” Issy gasps.

“Yeah, the boys would come around, and in summer we would have BBQs out by the pool. I also have a year-round ice rink in one of the sheds out back,” I tell her.

“Of course you do.” She chuckles.

“I’m always training.” I grin. “Look, I’m going to go pack some bags to take back to the city with me. Go explore, and I’ll call out when I’m ready to leave.

An hour later, I’ve packed five suitcases, and the driver’s come to collect them and put them in the trunk of the car.

I’ve also packed my equipment and anything sentimental that could be taken by an angry partner, which was Issy’s suggestion.

For the other items that I couldn’t take with me, I took photos and sent a message to my lawyer saying that the house is off-limits until we come to an amicable solution on it.

I don’t want Kitty coming in and destroying my shit in a fit of rage, or her dumbass friends ruining the home to spite me.

“Okay, buddy, we are off on an adventure. It’s going to be a long flight to your new home or your semi new home. Dad’s working shit out.” Frankston stares at me and gives me a big ruff as if he understands.

“Guess he understood that.” Issy chuckles.

“Of course he did, he is the smartest boy,” I say, smooching his face.

“Wow, you really are a dog dad.”

“Can I claim myself as a DILF then?” I wink at Issy.

She shakes her head but laughs at my joke.

We eventually make it home after the huge day, and Issy excuses herself to bed as she has work in the morning, while I help Frankston settle in.

Because it was late, I took him for a walk around the block where his little nose was working overtime with all the smells.

He didn’t like the traffic or the constant honking or sirens, but he was a good boy and tried his hardest.

“Frankston,” Issy screams.

He comes running into my bedroom and hides behind me. “What did you do boy? You are supposed to make a good first impression,” I ask him. He just gives me his innocent look. Issy comes walking into my bedroom with a mangled shoe in her hand.

“I thought you said he was house-trained. He ate a pair of very expensive shoes,” she shouts, waving the shoes in her hand.

“He is. He doesn’t normally eat shoes,” I explain. “Buddy, what the hell? What were you thinking?” I ask him. He gives me a lick. “Now is not the time to be cute. I think the upheaval has made him lash out.”

Those dark eyes narrow on me and then my dog.

“Marcus and Jordan are on their way, and you’re not even dressed.

We are going to be late for this meeting, and it’s in my home.

You just have to walk two steps,” Issy says angrily.

“Tell your dog no more eating my shoes or we are going to have a problem.” She points them again at Frankston, who wags his tail happily before she walks out of my room.

“Dude, you’re supposed to be on my side.

I know this is a big adjustment, but it’s only temporary.

I’m sorry I’m making you a child of a broken home, but it’s for the best, buddy.

You have no idea how much Issy has gone out on a limb with us being here.

We’ve just called a truce between us, and you are going to make her hate me again.

” Frankston gives me another lick. “I love you, buddy. I think I’ll need to call Uncle Felix to come and take you for a walk while we have this meeting.

Would you like that?” I ask him. When he jumps in my arms, I know the decision is made. I pick up my phone and call my brother.

“Hey, is there a chance you can be on doggy duties? Frankston ate one of Issy’s shoes this morning, and I have an important meeting with Marcus and Jordan at the house soon.

He’s used to being able to roam free around the yard and not be couped up.

Plus, Issy’s agreed to a truce, and he’s going to ruin it before it’s even started,” I explain to him.

Felix laughs. “Yeah, I think I can do that. I’ll take him for a walk. I’ve already done my run this morning. You should join Sam and me on those, you’d have to wear a disguise though.”

“I can’t risk it, not yet, maybe you could take Frankston in the mornings with you.”

“I could do that.”

“Thank you.”

“So, the flight back home went well between you and Issy then?” he asks.

“We settled on starting over. It was hard listening to her tell me how my actions changed her outlook on relationships, but I needed to hear it. I messed up so badly with her and I feel awful over it, but I’m choosing to be positive that she is willing to give me this second chance at friendship.

Right now, I need positivity and friends, shit is about to hit the fan,” I tell him.

“Harper got notifications about some blind items that have been posted online about the wedding,” Felix says.

“Really? What did they say?”

“They said that a certain hockey wedding in Italy didn’t get called off because of a family emergency, it was called off due to cold feet,” Harper calls out.

“You could have told me we weren’t alone,” I grumble to my brother.

“Don’t worry, Issy filled me in on your plane trip,” Harper calls out again.

“Felix!”

“I’ll be over in twenty.”

We say our goodbyes and hang up. I walk out of my room and into the kitchen where Issy is grabbing her coffee.

“Sorry about your shoes, I’ll buy you some new ones.

” Issy gives me a dirty side-eye as she continues making her coffee.

“Felix is coming over to take Frankston out today while we have the meeting.”

“You didn’t have to do that,” she tells me.

“He needs it. It will wear him out, and he will crash for the rest of the day,” I explain. “Again, I’m sorry about the shoes. He hasn’t done anything like that in years.”

“Look, I get it, he’s flown across the country and is now in a new environment,” she says, continuing to sip her coffee. “I appreciate you asking Felix to take him out while he is unsettled. I’ll make sure to lock up all my shoes so he can’t get to them.”

“You shouldn’t have to, this is your house. I can lock him in my room when I’m gone so he doesn’t destroy anything.”

She frowns over her mug. “You don’t need to do that, it would be cruel.” She reaches down and runs her fingers through Frankston’s fur, who has come by to say sorry.

“I’ll buy you all the shoes,” I tell her.

“I’ll keep that in mind.” She grins.