Page 41 of Snowed In with Four Firemen
She pulls back, her eyes glossy with unshed tears. “How? How am I supposed to have this wedding when everything’s falling apart, Em?”
My heart aches for her. Everything she’s worked so hard for is crumbling before her eyes. And now, she has to add this to the list.
“We’ll improvise,” I say quickly.
“Improvise with what?”
“We’ll improvise,” I say, trying to sound as confident as possible, though I have absolutely no plan.
Hailey looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “Emily…”
Without thinking, I blurt out, “Tanner will make your cake.”
Tanner, who’s been sitting quietly next to me this whole time, suddenly stiffens. “I will?” he echoes.
I shoot him a look, one that screamsjust go with it, and then quickly turn back to Hailey, who is staring at us both like we’re completely unhinged. “Yeah, Tanner can totally bake!” I say,
“I can?” Tanner says.
Hailey narrows her eyes suspiciously. “Do you even know how to bake?”
I glance at Tanner, then back at Hailey. “Uh…yeah. Totally.”
Tanner gives me a sideways glance, then, with a resigned sigh, clears his throat and straightens up. “Yeah, I can…bake…things,” he says, sounding about as convincing as a dog trying to explain quantum physics. “Flour, sugar…cake-shaped…stuff.” He gestures vaguely with his hands, and I bite my lip, trying so hard not to laugh.
There’s a beat of silence as Hailey just stares at us, and I swear I see her eye twitch. “Are you both serious?”
“Absolutely,” Tanner replies, sounding more confident than before. “I’m basically a…cake whisperer.”
Hailey rubs her forehead. “I can’t tell if you guys are pulling my leg or not because it’s a really bad time to do that.”
“We’re not,” I say, sobering. “Look, I get it—you’re stressed. And everything seems like it’s falling apart right now, but I swear, we’re going to make this work. Axel, Jace, Tanner, Ben…they’re all on board. You’re not doing this alone. I’m not letting anything else ruin your big day.”
She hesitates, her shoulders still tense, but I can see her starting to relent. “I don’t know, Em...this wedding is already a mess.”
I smile warmly. “That’s why it’s going to be even more memorable. It’s not about perfection, Hails—it’s about you and Sam. We’re just here to make sure you get to walk down that aisle, no matter what.”
Hailey finally sighs, her face softening as she gives me a small, weary smile. “Okay…okay. But you’d better not let Tanner anywhere near an oven unsupervised.”
Tanner, from behind us, mutters, “Hey, I resent that.”
I roll my eyes, grinning. “We won’t. Don’t worry.”
Hailey exhales and nods. “Alright…I’ll try to let go. You guys take the reins.”
“We’ve got you,” I assure her, squeezing her hand. “Everything’s going to be okay.”
After Hailey leaves, I turn to Tanner with a raised eyebrow, crossing my arms.
“Well, you heard the bride,” I say. “Now come on, let’s go bake a cake.”
I turn to walk towards the door when Tanner goes, “Emily, wait?”
“What?” I say, turning around to face him. Tanner is close. Too close. He squeezes my hand slightly.
As he stands in front of me, there’s this charged silence for a brief moment—his hand still lightly gripping mine. Our eyes meet, and I feel that same flutter deep in my stomach that’s been simmering ever since we met. There’s something about the way he looks at me, something that’s disarming, like he’s trying to figure me out just as much as I’m trying to figure out whatever’s going on between us.
But I can’t. Not now.
