Page 24

ISABELLE

S o 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 in moments ,” 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 having moments ,” 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.

“I don’t have to have sex with him.”

“You don’t? Seriously, look at him,” she questions me. Why does she keep talking about how hot Pierre is?

“Eve!”

My sister rolls her eyes. “Was the kiss not good?” I don’t answer which makes her face light up with a big smile.

“It was good, wasn’t it? And you hate the fact that it was because you want Pierre St. Pierre to stay in a box marked asshole but he’s not fitting in that box anymore.

” I hate how right she is, but I’m not going to give her the satisfaction of telling her she is right.

Because I want Pierre to stay an asshole because it makes it easier not to forgive him for breaking my heart and turning me into this.

“It’s okay to let him out of the box, and it’s okay to realize he’s not the same guy who broke your heart all those years ago.

You can forgive, but you don’t have to forget.

Although, if I’m being honest, I think you should forget it.

You two are different people now and a lot of time has gone by. Maybe you need to start again.”

“That’s what I’m trying to do.”

“But you’re still stuck in the past. You keep seeing him with that girl he cheated on you with.”

“Because it sucked seeing it.”

“Have you told him this?” she asks.

“Yes. Kind of. It’s not like he can change it. What’s done is done,” I tell her.

“So, you’re just going to live in this purgatory. It’s going to drive you insane,” she says.

It already is. “It’s not like he’s staying with me forever. The Mavericks will hire him. Now that Kitty has blasted their business to the world, he doesn’t have to hide as much, so he’ll start looking for a new place soon.”

“I’m sorry you’re going through this,” she says, giving me a small smile.

“It’s only short-term pain,” I tell her.

“You shouldn’t be in pain around someone.”

“I know.”

“He really hurt you, didn’t he? I know I was too young to understand what was going on, but I always thought he was a good guy.”

“Until he wasn’t,” I add.

“People make stupid mistakes when they're young,” she says, giving me a knowing smile. A stupid mistake when she was younger changed her life forever. “All I’m saying is people change. You’re not the same person you were at that age, and neither is he.

If you truly want a clean slate with him, Issy, you’re going to have to move past the images in your head. Really. Truly. Try.”

Maybe she’s right. “Thanks for this. I appreciate the chat. We should do it more often,” I tell her

“Does that mean I gave you good advice.”

“Yes, of course,” I say. Eve gives me a blinding smile. “Eve, did me going away hurt you? You said something, and I guess I was focused on my own heartbreak that I didn’t realize I might have hurt others in the process.”

“It was confusing. No one would tell me what was going on. You went to Europe for spring break and then never came home. Dad was upset, so was Vi. Pierre was then kicked out of the house during the summer. There was a lot of turmoil. I guess I just missed my sister. And ten years was a long time to be away. You missed so many milestones, not just with me but with Vi, too.” Oh wow.

I had no idea. “Things that we could have used our big sister for.”

“I called all the time.”

“I know. Just sometimes we would have liked you to be there,” she confesses.

“I had no idea.” Guess that’s why Vi and Eve are so close because I pushed them away while trying to protect myself. “I’m sorry.”

“You have nothing to apologize for, Issy. I’m glad you turned to me when you needed help.

” Her words hit me, and I make a note to make more time for my sisters.

I get up and hug her. She stiffens under my embrace because I’m not a hugger, but when I give her a squeeze she hugs me back. “I love you. We need more sister time.”

“Does that mean I can take you shopping?” she asks.

“Again, with my clothes. Are they really that bad?” I ask her.

She bursts out laughing. “No. You are stylish, but I would love to see you less buttoned up.”

You know what, it’s just clothes. “Okay. Let’s do it. You and me, shopping day. I could use an excuse to get out of the house.” I grin.

“I’ve got you.” She smiles back.