Chapter 5
EMILY
I storm down the hallway to my room, my heart still pounding with anger. Jace has some nerve, bringing up all this protective nonsense when he’s the one who’s always let me down. Has he seriously forgotten the events that led to our breakup? Typical man.
I shake my head.
As I shove open the door to my room, I’m too frustrated to appreciate the cozy setup waiting inside.
I flick on the light and take a breath, trying to calm myself down.
The room is rustic and charming, with wooden beams across the ceiling and a stone fireplace in the corner.
A thick, plaid blanket is draped over a big, comfy-looking armchair by the window, and the bed is covered in a fluffy white duvet that looks warm and inviting.
It’s the perfect mountain retreat. I might even find it peaceful under different circumstances.
But right now, I can’t think about anything but Jace and his idiotic assumptions. I flop down onto the edge of the bed, fuming. Who does he think he is, warning me off his friends like I’m some clueless girl who can’t make her own decisions?
But then, his words echo in my mind, and I find myself wondering—are his friends seriously interested in me?
I mean, I’m not blind. Axel, Tanner, and Ben are all handsome in their own ways.
Axel, with those striking blue eyes and a natural authority that makes him impossible to ignore.
Tanner, with his easygoing charm and that teasing grin.
And Ben, who’s quieter but has this rugged appeal that draws you in.
I shake my head, trying to dismiss the thought. Why should I care if they’re interested? I’m here for Hailey’s wedding, not to get tangled up in a messy affair. Especially with my ex at the wedding.
Thinking about Whit gives me pause. Is he already here? My phone is in the car and I can’t check my messages. I lost everything when the rental car went down, so I have nothing to change into. I wonder where Hailey is right now. Thank God she’s around my size.
I pick up the room phone and dial reception.
“Hello, this is Collie. How can I help you?”
“Hi, Collie. This is Emily, the, um, new arrival,” I say, trying to sound more composed than I feel. “Can you tell me where Hailey is staying?”
“Oh, of course, dear. She’s in Room 204, just down the hall from you,” Collie says kindly. “Should be just around the corner.”
“Thanks, Collie,” I say, hanging up before heading out into the hallway again.
I take a deep breath as I walk to Hailey’s room, trying to push away thoughts of Jace and his friends. This is about Hailey, not about me and whatever mess is going on in my head. I need to focus on why I’m here—my best friend’s wedding.
When I reach her room, I knock gently on the door. A few moments later, it swings open, and there’s Hailey, looking radiant despite the late hour. Her hair is pulled up in a messy bun, and she’s wearing a cozy sweater and leggings, but she still looks effortlessly beautiful.
“Emily!” she exclaims, pulling me into a tight hug. “I’m so glad you’re here! I was worried with the storm and everything. I tried calling you, but it wouldn’t go through.”
“I know, I was stuck in the storm.”
She gasps. “Oh, my God. Are you okay?”
I hug her back, feeling some of the tension leave my shoulders. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just a little shaken up.”
“Are you sure? I feel like it’s my fault. You’re here because of me. Maybe I should have reconsidered the location, considering the fact that we’re going into the December winter.”
“Stop. I’m fine and I’m here now. Enough about that—how are you? How’s everything going with the wedding?”
Hailey steps aside, waving me into the room. It’s a bit larger than mine, with a few more decorations scattered around—bridal magazines on the table, a bouquet of flowers on the dresser, and a garment bag hanging in the corner, presumably holding her wedding dress.
“It’s been crazy, but good crazy,” Hailey says with a laugh as I sit down on the edge of the bed. “Everyone’s running around, making sure everything’s perfect. Sam’s been a nervous wreck, but I’m just so excited. I can’t believe it’s actually happening!”
I smile, genuinely happy for her. “I’m so happy for you, Hailey.”
“Thanks, Em,” she says, sitting down next to me. “But what about you? You look a little shaken up.”
“The storm was scary. I was actually rescued by your brother and his friends.”
Hailey gasps. “Oh my God. Jace didn’t tell me.”
“We just got in,” I say. “I lost the rental—”
“We’ll sort that out, don’t worry,” Hailey says. I don’t doubt her. Her family is filthy rich.
“It’s just that,” I say, feeling embarrassed, “I don’t have any clean clothes on me.”
“Say no more,” she says, walking over to her closet and pulling out clothes. “Take a shower and freshen up. I’m sure you could use it after everything. I’ll put the clothes outside for you to wear.”
“Thanks,” I say, feeling grateful. It’s been months since I last saw Hailey, but our bond remains the same.
I head into the bathroom and take a long, hot shower, letting the water wash away the chill from my bones. As the warmth seeps into my muscles, I feel some of the tension start to melt away.
I run a hand through my damp hair as I walk back into Hailey’s room, feeling a bit more human after a hot shower. The steam had helped clear my mind, if only a little. Wearing Hailey’s clothes—an oversized sweatshirt and a pair of leggings—feels oddly comforting.
As I enter, I see Hailey pacing back and forth, her brow furrowed with worry. “Hailey? What’s going on?”
She stops and turns to me, her face pale. “You really got me worried about the storm, Em. I started calling some of my vendors to make sure everything was okay, and even though my wedding planner says everything is fine, she told me to be prepared just in case. I’m not prepared, Em.”
“Hailey—” I begin. The wedding planner should have been a little more tactful. “It’s going to be okay.”
Hailey shakes her head. “Is it? They won’t be able to make it up the mountain if this weather keeps up. It’s freaking me out.”
“Hey, hey,” I say, stepping forward and placing my hands on her shoulders.
“It’s going to be okay. The storm might’ve been bad earlier, but it’s letting up now.
The vendors will make it. And even if they don’t, we’ll figure something out.
I promise you, Hails, your wedding is going to be perfect no matter what. ”
Hailey takes a deep breath, nodding slightly. “I know, I just…I want everything to go smoothly. I’ve been dreaming about this day for so long, and now it feels like everything’s falling apart. Let alone the fact that you almost got killed.”
I shake my head, giving her a reassuring smile. “Nothing’s falling apart. You’ve got so many people here who love you and want to make this day special for you and Sam. And look, I’m here with you, sweetheart. Now take deep breaths with me.”
“Em—”
“Please?”
She nods reluctantly and starts to breathe in sync with me until I see her calming down.
“You’re right, Em. Thank you. I just needed to hear that.”
“Anytime, Hails.”
She pulls me into a hug, holding me tightly. “I’m so glad you’re here, Emily. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“I’m glad I’m here too,” I reply, hugging her back. “Now, why don’t we sit down and relax for a bit? And we can go over your folder and see if we can plan for contingencies.”
“You don’t think I’m being a Bridezilla?” she sniffs.
“What? No. The storm was bad enough. It’s okay to worry about it. What’s not okay is to give yourself pimples by freaking out.”
She touches her face. “I have a pimple? Where?”
I grin. “I was just kidding.”
She makes a face. “Not funny.”
“Get the folder, please?”
Hailey nods and pulls away from our hug and quickly retreats to the small coffee table set up to the side.
She grabs at a thick, well-worn binder—the infamous wedding folder.
I’ve seen it a few times before, and it is usually filled with inspirational pictures, color swatches, and vendor contracts.
It’s much bigger than the last time I saw it.
“Okay,” she says, flipping it open to a page marked with sticky notes and scribbles. “Now what? Just looking at the book is making me nauseous.”
I take the folder from her. “Breathe. Now let’s go over the plan again, just in case we need to make any changes. I want to be prepared for anything.”
We start going over the schedule, making notes on what we might need to adjust if the vendors can’t make it up the mountain.
Hailey jots down ideas for alternative decorations and how we could move the ceremony indoors if the storm doesn’t let up.
It’s a good thing that Hailey knows this place like the back of her hand.
Despite the stress, there’s something comforting about having a plan, even if it’s just a contingency.
As we continue to flip through the pages of Hailey’s wedding folder, the conversation drifts back to our childhood once more. During summers, I spent most of my time at Hailey’s house, trying to avoid the drama at mine. And Hailey’s mom was always accommodating.
“Do you remember that time we tried to build a treehouse?” Hailey laughs, her eyes sparkling with the memory.
I grin, nodding. “How could I forget? We thought we could do it all on our own without any help. And then Jace showed up with all his tools and actually managed to make something out of our pile of wood and nails.”
Hailey rolls her eyes playfully. “Yeah, he always had to be the hero, didn’t he?”
My smile fades as I think about our earlier conversation. He was always there, always looking out for us, even when we were being stubborn and trying to prove we could do everything on our own. I remember the way he smiled at me that day, so proud of our little treehouse.