Page 1 of Snowed In with Four Firemen
CHAPTER 1
EMILY
I’m goingto kill my ex.
Right on cue, my phone lights up with a text from Whit. It’s like the asshole has got some kind of sixth sense for when I’m thinking about him. The screen flashes with his name, and I feel the familiar tightening in my chest as I read his message:Are you going to be at the wedding?
I grit my teeth, my thumb hovering over the screen for a moment before I lock the phone and toss it onto the passenger seat. No way am I getting sucked into that right now. I’ve got enough on my plate without dealing with him.
The voices blaring out of the car’s dashboard radio are a welcome distraction. It’s some podcast about the weather, of all things, but the speakers’ animated tones are oddly comforting. One guy, with a deep, rumbling voice, is explaining the sudden shifts in weather patterns across Colorado.
“...and that’s why the storm system is so unpredictable here, especially as winter sets in,” he’s saying, sounding a little too excited about the possible chaos. What a dork. “We’re seeing a lot more rapid changes in temperature and pressure, which could lead to anything from flash floods to sudden snowstorms, even in areas that don’t typically see this kind of weather.”
“Right, and for those of you driving through the mountains today, keep an eye on those clouds,” a woman chimes in, her voice light but laced with concern. “There’ve been reports of quick shifts—clear skies one minute, and the next, you’re in the middle of a blizzard or worse. And don’t forget about the winds. They can whip up out of nowhere, especially on those mountain passes.”
“Exactly,” the man agrees. “If you’re traveling, make sure you’ve got an emergency kit in your car, and don’t take any risks. Better to be late than—well, you know.”
I snort. “Better to be late than dead, you mean,” I mutter under my breath, glancing at the GPS on my phone just to make sure I’m still on the right track. The little blue dot tells me I’m moving in the right direction, but there’s still a long way to go. Three more hours.
Great.
The rental car hums beneath me, a small, compact thing I picked up just outside the airport. It’s not much, but it has decent mileage and was cheap enough to fit into my budget. I’ve already sunk way too much into this trip, between the flight, the dress, and now this car. All for my best friend’s wedding. I sigh, rubbing my temples as I think about the festivities ahead. It’s supposed to be a happy occasion but with Whit there…
A flash of motion to my left snaps me out of my thoughts. I glance up just in time to see a massive truck barreling toward me, veering into my lane as it passes another vehicle. My breath catches in my throat, and instinct takes over. I jerk the wheel to the right, my heart pounding as the car swerves out of the truck’s path. Tires screech against the asphalt, and for a terrifying moment, I’m sure I’m going to lose control. But then the car steadies, and I’m back in my lane, the truck roaring past me like nothing ever happened.
My hands are shaking as I grip the wheel, trying to calm the adrenaline surging through my veins. My heart is still racing, and I can feel the blood pounding in my ears. I take a deep breath, forcing myself to focus on the road ahead.
“Hope that’s not an omen,” I say to myself, raking my fingers through my hair.
Just then, my phone buzzes again. Hailey’s name flashes on the screen, and I can’t help but smile as I answer. She’s worth all of the trouble. We’ve been through thick and thin, and showing up for her is the least I could do. I know she’s mad that I didn’t show up earlier, but she doesn’t bring that up.
“Hey, Em! You on your way?” Hailey’s voice is bright, but I can hear the stress hiding beneath it. I picture her running around, probably with a checklist in one hand and a coffee in the other, trying to keep everything from falling apart.
“Yeah, I’m on my way,” I say, glancing at the GPS again. “Mt. Baker Snowlodge, right?”
I’m hoping, just for a split second, that she’ll tell me I’ve got the wrong place. Maybe it’s all a mix-up, and the wedding is actually somewhere less remote, less...snowy. But Hailey shatters that tiny hope.
As I’m talking to her, my phone lights up again; this time, it’s not another text. It’s Whit, his name glaring up at me from the screen like a bad joke. My stomach clenches with annoyance, but I force myself to focus on Hailey’s voice instead.
“Yep, that’s the place! It’s a little up the mountain, but it’s got the best views. You’ll love it, Em. Just drive right up there. The road’s a bit twisty, but you’ll be fine.”
I bite my lip, thinking about the storm warnings I just heard on the radio. “You sure the weather’s gonna hold out? I just heard something about a storm on the way.”
My gaze flickers back to the screen. Whit’s call goes to voicemail, but then it starts again, his name flashing insistently.My irritation bubbles up, but I shove it down, trying to keep my voice steady. I don’t understand what his problem is.
Hailey laughs, brushing off my concern as if the storm is no big deal. “Oh, you know how these mountain storms are. It will snow today and melt by tomorrow.”
“Right,” I say. “And Hailey, listen, I know you’re probably busy with preparations and I don’t want to spring this on you?—”
“I know what you’re going to say,” she says, cutting me off. “I’m really sorry, but Sam invited Whit. I couldn’t exactly say no.”
My chest tightens at the mention of his name, but I force a light tone. “It’s fine, Hails. I’m a big girl. I can handle it.”
But can I?
“Are you sure?” Hailey says. “I know it was a bad breakup.”
“He cheated on me,” I say flatly. “Life happens.”
