Page 49 of Snowed In with Four Firemen
“And how long ago was this?”
“Last month,” I say sheepishly.
“Ouch,” he says.
I groan. “I honestly thought he wasn’t coming.”
“The helicopter seems to be a bit too much,” Tanner agrees.
“Yeah, he does stunts for a living,” I say darkly. “And he has a penchant for being dramatic.”
“That one of the reasons you broke up?”
I shake my head. “No, he cheated on me. And later blamed me for it.”
Tanner sucks in a breath. “Fuck. Only a fool would do that…cheat on you.”
Tanner and I step outside, the cold air biting at my cheeks as we leave the warmth of the kitchen behind. The wind from the helicopter blades whips through the courtyard, sending snow swirling in the air like tiny frozen tornadoes. A few staffmembers are out there, bundled up and shoveling the snow to clear a spot for the helicopter to land comfortably.
I clutch Tanner’s arm tightly, more out of nerves than the cold. My heart hammers in my chest, and I can feel the tension seeping into my muscles as we watch the scene unfold. I can’t believe that not even half an hour ago, I was feeling like I was on top of the world. Of course, the universe always finds a way to somehow humble me.
The helicopter’s rotors slow down, and I swallow hard, knowing exactly who’s about to step out. It’s like a scene from one of those bad romance movies where the hero shows up out of nowhere, larger than life, like he owns the place. And of course, he’s got to make an entrance, just like always. Except he’s not the hero.
The door to the helicopter opens, and out steps Whit—my ex.
He looks the same as always, infuriatingly put together and confident, like nothing in the world could faze him. His dark hair, perfectly styled as if the wind didn’t dare mess it up, contrasts sharply with the white snow beneath him. He’s wearing one of those expensive leather jackets, the kind that hugs his broad shoulders and shows off just how well he keeps in shape. His sunglasses are firmly in place, even though it’s barely noon and there’s no sun to warrant them.
He moves like he’s got all the time in the world, like everyone should stop and watch him enter the room—or in this case, the middle of a snowstorm. He’s got some balls to be flying in a helicopter in this weather.
His boots crunch against the snow as he steps closer, and for a second, I think about turning around and bolting back inside.
But no—I won’t be a coward.
“Is that him?” Tanner whispers beside me, his voice barely audible over the sound of the helicopter winding down.
I nod, unable to tear my eyes away from Whit. “Yeah,” I say quietly. “That’s Whit.”
He’s closer now, his gaze scanning the crowd, and I know the moment he spots me. His lips curl into a full grin, and it’s like a punch to the gut.
Tanner feels me stiffen beside him and gently squeezes my arm. “Hey, you okay?”
I nod again, but my voice betrays me. “I don’t know.”
Tanner has his arms secured around me. My heart lurches in awareness, and I spot movement from the corner of my eye. And sure enough, it’s Jace, Axel, and Ben making their way out of the lodge. They must have been alerted by the sound of the helicopter, as well.
Jace’s eyes darken when he spots Tanner and me standing so close. His jaw clenches, and I wonder what he’s thinking for a second, but I don’t have to guess for long. His gaze flicks to Tanner’s arm around my waist, and the tension between them practically crackles in the air. Axel, on the other hand, looks outright pissed, his brows drawn together in a scowl that could melt the snow beneath us. I shift uncomfortably under their scrutiny, but Tanner holds firm, almost like he’s staking some kind of claim.
It’s bad enough that Whit’s here, and now I have Jace and Axel both fuming over something that isn’t even a thing...is it?
I shift uncomfortably in Tanner’s arms. He doesn’t let go of me, but greets his friends with a nod.
Jace looks like he’s about to say something, but he seems to change his mind at the last moment.
“Who is this asshole?” Axel says, frowning at Whit.
“That’s Whit, he always does stuff like this,” I say.
“You know him?” Ben asks.
