Chapter 9 #2
I barely register what she’s saying as I try to keep my composure.
The image of Chloe stranded in the snow makes me almost laugh—until she adds, “But don’t worry, Jace and his firefighter buddies went out this morning to retrieve the flowers for me.
Such sweet guys, really. I don’t know what I would have done without them. ”
My eyes widen, and I feel a wave of anger wash over me. “They’re doing what?” I snap, louder than I intended.
Chloe raises an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the reaction. “Oh, did I forget to mention that part? Yeah, they’re out there now. Jace insisted on helping. I mean, it’s not every day you have a team of hotshot firefighters at your disposal, right?”
I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from saying something I’ll regret.
My hands are clenched so tightly at my sides that my knuckles turn white.
This is just too much. Not only is Chloe here, but now she’s got Jace and the others running around doing her bidding?
It’s like high school all over again, where Chloe just assumed the world would bend to her will—and everyone, including Jace, just fell in line.
Chloe focuses on us, her expression thoughtful, as if she’s remembering something fondly. “You know, it was really something seeing Jace again after all this time,” she says, her tone softer, almost nostalgic. “It’s like…everything just clicked into place.”
My jaw clenches, and I force myself to keep my expression neutral, even as my insides twist with jealousy. I don’t even understand why I’m feeling this way. I don’t even like Jace anymore.
“What do you mean, Chloe?” Hailey asks gently, always the peacemaker.
Chloe smiles, a dreamy look in her eyes. “It’s hard to explain, really. But seeing him again just reminded me of how things used to be. How easy everything was, you know?”
That’s exactly how I felt with Jace around. It’s like she has snooped through my head, privy to all my thoughts.
I can’t help but feel like she’s purposely saying this in front of me, trying to get under my skin. And, damn it, it’s working.
But I won’t give her the satisfaction of a reaction. Instead, I plaster a tight smile on my face and nod, forcing myself to speak calmly. “That’s…nice, Chloe. I’m glad you feel that way.” My voice sounds foreign, like it’s coming from someone else.
Chloe’s eyes flick to me, and for a brief second, I see a flash of something in her gaze—satisfaction, maybe?—before she quickly masks it with another bright smile.
“Thanks, Emily. I really appreciate that. I mean, it’s just so nice to see everyone again and reconnect. And who knows? Maybe this wedding will be the start of something new for a lot of us.”
I nod again, even as my mind is racing.
Just then, Hailey gets a text on her phone.
“The boys are back,” she says, her voice brightening. “They’re out in the front lobby. Let’s go.”
Chloe immediately perks up, adjusting her hair and giving her lipstick a quick swipe. She’s walking ahead of us, checking her reflection in every shiny surface she passes. I roll my eyes at her and make a face behind her back. Hailey catches my expression and bites back a laugh.
“Honestly, Emily,” she whispers, shaking her head. “I swear, I had no idea Chloe would be coming to deliver the flowers herself. She told me she’d send someone, but I guess she decided to make it a personal mission.”
I shrug, trying to act nonchalant. “It’s fine, Hailey. Really. I’m just here for you, remember?”
Hailey looks at me gratefully, but then her phone buzzes again. She glances at it, her face scrunching up in confusion. “Why is Jace saying ‘brace yourself’?”
I blink, then glance around the hallway. “Are you getting a signal on your phone?”
Hailey nods, still looking puzzled. “Yeah, why?”
I smirk, trying to lighten the mood. “They probably don’t want you to pass out when you see the flowers.”
“As long as Chloe stuck to my instructions and got the flowers right, I’ll be fine.”
“And if not, do I smell murder?” I say. “I’ll even help you take care of the body.”
Hailey laughs.
We step into the lobby, and my eyes widen as I take in the sight in front of us. Hailey freezes next to me, all the color draining from her face. I can barely believe what I’m seeing.
The guys are standing around a cluster of pots filled with what must have once been beautiful flowers, but now they’re just sad, frozen, wilted things. Frost clings to every petal and leaf, turning them into a patchwork of icy, drooping messes.
“Oh no!” Chloe gasps dramatically, rushing over to the pots. “They must have been frozen in the car!”
“Yeah, no shit, Sherlock,” I blurt out before I can stop myself. The words echo louder than I intend, and suddenly all eyes are on me.
The guys turn to look at me, their expressions ranging from amused to exasperated. But Jace—he just keeps staring.
For a moment, I think I see something in his eyes, but then he looks back to Chloe, who’s still fussing over the dead plants like she’s trying to bring them back to life with sheer determination.
I can’t stand it.
But I have to push that aside. Hailey needs me right now.
“Oh, my flowers,” Hailey murmurs, her voice thin and fragile. “They’re all ruined…”
I turn back to Hailey, just in time to see her swaying on her feet, her face pale as a ghost. “Hailey!” I catch her just as she starts to slump, guiding her over to a nearby chair. “Here, sit down. It’s okay. We’ll figure something out.”
She sinks into the chair, her hands trembling as she covers her face. “What am I going to do? The wedding is tomorrow, and my flowers...”
I kneel beside her, squeezing her hand. “Hey, we’ll sort this out. I promise. We’ve still got time, and there has to be a way to fix this.”
Hailey nods but looks like she’s about to burst into tears. I shoot a glare at Chloe, who’s still flitting around the frozen pots like a headless chicken.
God, I hate her.
Axel and Jace walk up to us, both of them looking grim. I can only feel dread in my stomach at the look. Whatever they have to say can’t be good. Axel speaks first, his voice low and serious. “There’s more bad news.”
Hailey’s eyes widen, and a small whimper escapes her lips. I shoot the guys a glare.
“Guys, can we not do this now? She’s already distressed.”
Axel shakes his head, his expression firm. “Better to rip the band-aid off, Emily. She needs to know.”
I feel Hailey tense beside me, her hand tightening around mine. “What is it?” she asks, her voice barely a whisper.
Axel glances at Jace, who nods, before turning back to Hailey. “The storm has cut off the road completely. Chloe was the last to arrive last night. No one can come up or down the mountain until the road is cleared.”
As soon as the words leave Axel’s mouth, Hailey’s face crumples. A heart-wrenching howl escapes her, echoing through the lobby. “How the hell am I supposed to get married without a groom?!”
Jace reaches out, trying to comfort her, but Hailey pulls away, tears streaming down her face. “This can’t be happening to me.”
“Hailey, it’s going to be okay.”
“How exactly is it going to be okay?” she snaps through her tears. I swallow hard.
First, the flowers, and now this? What’s next? Is the lodge going to catch fire?
“Hey, hey,” I say gently, stepping in front of her to stop her pacing. “We’re going to figure this out, okay? We just need to stay calm and think.”
“Think? About what?” Hailey wails, tears streaming down her face. “Sam is stuck down there, and I’m stuck up here, and there’s no wedding without the groom!”
Jace sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. “The storm is supposed to let up by tomorrow. Once it does, they’ll start clearing the roads. We just have to wait it out for a bit.”
“Wait it out?” Hailey repeats, her voice high and hysterical. “My wedding is tomorrow, Jace! We don’t have time to wait!”
Axel tries to intervene. “Hailey, we know this is a lot. But panicking isn’t going to help. Let’s focus on what we can control.”
“Control? You think I can control this? My whole wedding is falling apart, Axel! What am I supposed to do?”
I wrap my arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. “We’re going to take it one step at a time, okay? We’ll figure out a plan, and we’ll make sure you have your wedding, even if it’s not exactly how you imagined.”
Hailey sniffles, nodding slightly as she leans into me. “I just…I just want to marry Sam.”
“And you will,” I promise, giving her a reassuring squeeze. “We’ll make it happen, one way or another. I have an idea.”
All three of them look at me at the same time. I swallow. Now I just have to figure out what the idea is.