Page 82 of Snowed In with Four Firemen
Whit and Sam are standing near the entrance, laughing about something. Whit’s got that easy, cocky grin on his face, and even from a distance, I can hear his voice carry across the space like he owns the room.
For a second, I think about turning around. Maybe I can pretend I didn’t see him, slip out and avoid the awkwardness. But then…why should I avoid him? He’s the one who caused this whole mess. If anything,heshould be uncomfortable.
But still, I can’t help but feel my heart race as they make their way over.
“Morning, Em,” Whit says, flashing me a smile as he approaches. “You look…well.”
I force myself to smile back, trying to stay civil. “Morning, Whit. Sam.”
Sam gives me a nod, looking a little sheepish as he gives me a smile.
Whit steps closer, leaning in and giving me a quick kiss on the cheek. The gesture catches me off guard, and I stiffen slightly but don’t pull away. He pulls back, his eyes searching mine, and for a split second, I wonder…has he really changed?
We were together for a long time, after all. We had good moments. It wasn’t all bad. Maybe this proposal wasn’t just a power move. Maybe he really thinks we can fix things.
“What are you doing up so early?” he asks.
I scratch my forehead. “I’m trying to help out with wedding stuff, as much as I can.”
“That’s still happening?” Whit says, trying to joke.
Sam elbows him. “Please.”
“What? I keep trying to tell him not to have it in this dump.”
“I think Mt. Snowlodge is great,” I retort. “Besides, it’s not about the place, but the people.”
“She’s right,” Sam says.
“You know…if you’re not busy, you could help out. We’ve got a lot to do, and an extra set of hands wouldn’t hurt.”
Whit blinks, clearly caught off guard by the suggestion. “Oh, uh…sure, sure. I’ll help after a few rounds on the slopes with Sam. Best snow we’ve had in a while, and I’m not missing it.”
I glance out the window. The snow might have let up, but the roads are still blocked. Still, the ski slopes look pristine, and I can tell by the way his eyes light up that he’s already checked out of this conversation.
“Right,” I say, forcing another smile. “Skiing. Of course.”
“Can’t miss out on a good run. But, uh, after that maybe? I’ll see if I can squeeze in some time to help.”
“Squeeze in?” I raise an eyebrow, trying to keep my tone light, though something sharp twists in my chest. “You do realize it’s your best friend’s wedding, right? Hailey might need a little more than ‘squeezing in.’”
Whit laughs it off, throwing an arm around Sam’s shoulders. “Yeah, but come on, Em. It’s not like there’s anything else to do around here. What’s a guy supposed to do, sit around twiddling his thumbs? We’ve got a few hours to kill, and skiing’s the only thing worth doing. Unless they open a strip club in the middle of the mountain, in which case, I’ll be there in a heartbeat.” He winks.
Sam laughs awkwardly, and I just stand there, trying not to let my frustration show. Whit’s always been like this—charming when he wants to be, but never around when it really counts. The thought of him helping with something as meaningful as Hailey’s wedding? A joke.
“Right, of course. Well, don’t let me keep you. Have fun on the slopes.”
He grins, giving me a playful salute before heading off with Sam.
I stand there for a moment, watching him leave, and that tiny flicker of hope I had—that maybe he’d changed, that maybe he was serious—dies just as quickly as it came.
He hasn’t changed.
Not one bit.
I sigh, rubbing my temples as I turn back to Collie. “Well, I guess it’s just us.”
Collie glances up from her clipboard, giving me a sympathetic smile. “He doesn’t seem like much of a helper.”
