Page 67 of Breaking the Ice

Mom: And I appreciate that you’d upend your life like this for your dad and the reputation of his hockey team. But you don’t need it to affect our Christmas plans, do you? I mean, meeting his extended family seems extreme since you’re not going to stay married after the year is over.

Evan: Isabella has family plans that day. I’m not sure if we’ll make it.

Mom: But Beth and Ally have already made their schedules fit around you and your hockey games. Honestly, it’s very difficult to find a time when everyone is free at the holidays. I need you to be more flexible.

Mom: Isabella can’t change her plans?

Evan: I guess they bought tickets months ago.

Mom: You did spring this wedding on us at the last minute, dear. If Isabella can’t come, maybe you should just come without her.

Evan: I’d really like my wife to be included in our family Christmas plans.

Mom: Obviously I would, too, and maybe next year when we have a little more advance warning, we can do a better job of including her.

Isabella: I guess since we got married so suddenly and it’s hard to change plans at the last minute, Evan and I can do our own thing with our own families for Christmas.

Mom: I think that makes a lot of sense, honey.

Mom: And you’ll be happier this way.

Chapter

Thirty

ISABELLA

Ariana: Can you guys meet up at the mall today? I’m sure it’s crazy, but I want to hang before we go our separate ways.

Ariana: And finish my Christmas shopping.

Isabella: I don’t really have any shopping to do, but I’ll come!

Vanessa: Can’t wait!

“I can’t believe you’re married!” Stopping in the middle of Aerie, Vanessa grabs my left hand for the third time, looking at the plain gold band on my fourth finger. It hasn’t changed since her last inspection, but she is fascinated.

“What do you think of this?” Ariana holds up a gray cable-knit sweater, then rolls her eyes. “Are you still going on about the wedding thing, Ness? You watched the live-stream, you know it happened.”

“It just—her life changed in an instant.” Vannessa’s blue eyes are wide in amazement.

I take my fingers from her grasp and pat her shoulder. “A little, yes. But I’m still me.” Then I turn to Ariana. “I like the sweater. It would go with everything.”

She is trying to find a last-minute gift for her sister, a high school junior. Giving a decisive nod, she tucks it under her arm, then grabs a bottle of body spray off a display shelf. “I think this finishes it.”

Vanessa reaches for a separate bottle, then lifts the cap and inhales. “Mmm, I like this one.”

I take a whiff. It smells like a field of wildflowers—very Vanessa. We sample all of the scents, testing them out on the little paper strips. Then Vanessa lures me into the pajama section, which is just a rack away from the lingerie. It’s understated, comfortable stuff, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s still underwear.

She gives me a wicked grin. “You should pick out something for Evan to enjoy.”

I play dumb. “None of this would fit him.”

“No, silly goose. For you to wear for him.” She holds up a matching bra and undie set. It’s pink and lacy and would look amazing with my complexion.

I reach out and rub the soft material between my thumb and forefinger. Evan and I have slept together, and it was amazing, but buying underwear for myself and gifting it to him? It’s so presumptuous. Especially after he bought me Hamilton tickets. It doesn’t feel right. “I don’t actually know if Evan likes lingerie.”

Vanessa shoots me a scathing eye roll. “Every guy likes lingerie.”