Chapter 27
EMILY
I sit beside Hailey on the plush couch in the lounge, the fire crackling nearby, casting a soft, warm glow on her worried face.
She’s biting her lip, her knee bouncing up and down as she stares blankly into the flames.
I can see the tension radiating off her, the anxiety she’s been holding in since Sam and Whit went missing.
Her eyes flicker to the window every few seconds as if she’s expecting to see Sam and the guys come marching through the door any minute. But we both know it’s not that simple.
“Hailey, they’re going to find him,” I say softly, resting my hand on her arm. “Sam’s tough, and the guys know what they’re doing. They’ve been through worse, and they’ll bring him back.”
Hailey doesn’t look convinced. Her eyes flicker toward me, wide and glassy with fear. “I know you’re trying to help, but it’s hard not to panic. I keep thinking about all the things that could go wrong out there. It’s freezing, Emily. What if—”
“Stop,” I interrupt gently but firmly. “You can’t think like that. Sam is going to be fine. He’s got a whole team of badass firefighters going after him. They’ve already saved me once, remember? They’ll bring him back, just like they brought me back.”
Her brow furrows. “You mean Jace.”
I pause for a moment, knowing what she’s getting at, but I shake my head.
“Not just Jace. All of them, Hailey. Axel, Tanner, Ben—they all risked their lives to make sure I got out of that storm. They work together like a well-oiled machine. They’re going to find Sam and Whit and bring them back safely. ”
Hailey hugs her knees to her chest, her body rigid with stress. “I want to believe that, Em. I do. But it’s hard. I’ve never felt so helpless in my life.”
I squeeze her arm a little tighter, leaning in closer to her. “You’re not helpless. You’re the strongest person I know. And tomorrow, you’re marrying the man of your dreams. You and Sam have been through so much already. This is just one more thing to get through together. You’ve got this.”
She sighs, her gaze softening as she looks at me. “You’re way better at this pep talk thing than I am.”
I laugh softly, trying to lighten the mood. “Hey, I’m just doing what I can. You’ve got this.”
Hailey cracks a smile, the tension in her face easing just a little. “You’re right. I’ve got this. I just…I need Sam to be okay.”
“He will be. And tomorrow, you’ll be walking down the aisle, and none of this will matter,” I assure her.
“You’re really not worried about Whit?” she asks softly, her voice tentative.
I sigh. “I mean, I’m worried about his safety, but nothing more than that.”
Her eyes light up. “Does that mean Jace and you are official?”
“Jace and I…we’ve got history, but there’s more to it.”
She furrows her brow, confused. “What do you mean? What could be more to it?”
Before I can answer, I spot a member of the lodge staff gesturing toward me, and I take it as an opportunity to escape the conversation for a moment. “I need to check on something,” I say quickly, standing up. “I’ll be right back, okay?”
Hailey gives me a small nod, still looking a little puzzled. It turns out the staff was confused about where to put most of the decorations that we hadn’t used yet. I told them to let that be for now as I had every intention of picking up the pace later. There won’t be enough time tomorrow.
When I return, I notice Hailey isn’t alone. She’s sitting with Chloe who has a smug smile plastered on her face, chatting away with Hailey like she’s some long-lost friend. My blood boils.
“Oh, I was just talking to Hailey about the wedding,” she says sweetly. “I was just telling Hailey that I think it’s such a shame I’m not part of the wedding party. I mean, I’ve known her just as long as you have, right?”
Hailey gives me a weary look, already uncomfortable with the direction the conversation is going. “Chloe, that’s really not possible. We’ve already finalized everything.” She gives her a look as if to mean you weren’t even supposed to be here anyway.
Chloe’s eyes flick to me, her smile tightening. “Well, what do you think, Emily? Shouldn’t I be part of the wedding party?”
I feel my pulse quicken, but I force myself to stay calm. “Hailey’s right. Everything’s set. It’s too late to change things now.”
“But it won’t hurt to have another bridesmaid, right? You did tell me one or two couldn’t make it here. I’m staying in one of their room’s, am I not?”
“Yes, but we’ve already adjusted,” Hailey says, shooting me a panicked look as if she wants me to save her. “Most of Sam’s party couldn’t make it up here either.”
“I don’t want Jace to be lonely.”
My jaw tightens. Of course, it’s all about that.
“Jace isn’t going to be lonely at all. He’s walking down the aisle with Emily.”
My gaze snaps to her. I had no idea.
“Always the matchmaker, Hailey,” Chloe says smiling, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “How perfect.”
There’s a pause. She looks at me, and I see the devilish smile on her face. My stomach twists. She’s up to something.
“Really? Jace. And what would his friends think about that? I noticed how jealous they were the other night with Whit…I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s bloodshed at the wedding and we don’t want that, do we?”
My stomach sinks.
Hailey frowns. “What are you talking about? Emily is with Jace.”
“Emily isn’t just with Jace. She’s been involved with Tanner, Axel, and what’s his name? The quiet one. Yeah, him too.”
“What? Em, what is she talking about?”
I open my mouth, trying to explain, but before I can, Chloe brings out her phone. “I know you won’t believe me so I brought proof.”
I’m aghast as she presses play on a video, her phone’s screen lighting up with a shaky recording. It’s from earlier—Tanner confronting Axel and Jace in the closet with me. The audio is muffled, but it’s clear enough. Tanner’s voice cuts through: “You’re fucking her?”
I freeze. Hailey’s face pales as she watches the video, her confusion quickly turning to anger.
“What…what is this?” Hailey asks, her voice shaky as she looks up at me
“Hailey, it’s not what it looks like…”
“Not what it looks like?” Hailey snaps, standing up from the couch. “Why are you messing around with all of them? Is this some kind of game to you?”
“No!” I blurt out, shaking my head, panic rising in my chest. “It’s not like that, Hailey. I never meant for any of this to happen. It’s complicated.”
“Complicated?” Hailey scoffs, standing up from her seat. “You think this is complicated? You’re sleeping with my brother and his friends—what, at the same time? And you didn’t think that maybe I’d have a problem with that?”
“It’s not like that!” I repeat, my voice trembling. “I didn’t plan for any of this, Hailey. I care about them, all of them, but I don’t know how it got so messy. I never wanted to hurt anyone.”
Chloe raises an eyebrow, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Oh, yeah, because nothing says, ‘I care’ like a little group hookup, right?”
“Shut up, Chloe,” I say.
“No, she won’t,” Hailey says, raking a hand through her hair. “Oh my God, I see everything so clearly now. Why they almost fought with Whit the other day, how weird you’ve been acting when you disappear.”
I have tears in my eyes. “Hailey, please.”
“This was my wedding, and you made it all about you.”
“Isn’t this what she always does?” Chloe says. “What a cliché you are, Emily. The fat girl who can’t deal when the attention isn’t on her.”
Hailey does little to defend me. I’ve had enough.
“I’m not going to stand here and hear you tear me down,” I say before turning to Hailey who doesn’t even look at me.
I wipe my tears with the back of my hand. I should have come clean before, but it’s too late to consider that possibility now.
I turn on my heel and walk away, but Chloe doesn’t seem to be done. She follows me, her laughter echoing behind me.
“You think you’re special? You never were. Not in school, not now.”
I ignore her.
“But guess what? They’re just having their fun, and you’re the convenient plaything stuck here with them.” Chloe snaps her fingers. “The moment the wedding is over, you’re out the window, Emily. And here I was feeling bad that Jace doesn’t care about me. I know he’ll come back once you’re gone.”
I can’t handle it anymore. I stop walking. “You’re wrong, Chloe.”
“Am I?” she says.
“So, you think they’re in love with you? All of them? You think this is going to have some fairytale ending?” she says.
“I don’t know what they feel about me,” I say, turning to face her. “But I know what I feel about them.”
I feel it with absolute surety now. I don’t know how, but I’m in love with all of them.