Waiting for Willa (Big Sky, #3)(63)

“Um, we need to change your proposal story. That can’t go in People magazine.” She leans back to look me in the eyes. “I’m so happy for you. So, so happy.”

“I’m happy for both of us. Who would have thought?”

She turns with her arm around my shoulders, and we look at our reflections in the mirror. Jenna in her amazing off-the-shoulder, white wedding dress, and me in my deep purple winter dress. Her fair features, and my dark.

We’re yin and yang.

And the closest of friends.

“Who would have thought, indeed,” she says with a grin and glances at my hand. “No ring?”

“It was spontaneous,” I say with a shrug. “And you know he’ll pick something up for me sooner or later.”

“I can’t wait to see it,” she says with a grin. “It’s going to be ridiculously amazing.”

“I hope he doesn’t spend what I paid for my house.”

“Don’t be silly,” she scoffs. “It’ll be way more than that.”

I choke on a laugh and have to take a swig of water. “What am I getting myself into?”

“The ride of your life, my friend. Now, I feel so much better seeing the dress on. Thank God it ran true to size.”

“I won’t have to outsource the hemming,” I reply. “I can do it myself. It’ll only take about an hour.”

“That long for a hem?”

“It’s not just the outskirt, it’s all of the layers underneath, as well. And you want those layers because they’ll keep you warm out there in the boonies.”

“Oh, let me show you the wrap I bought,” she says, gathering the skirt and walking to a bag on the chair in the corner. “It’s going to be warm and beautiful.”

“Oh, Jenna,” I breathe, taking the white, faux fur wrap from her and rubbing it reverently. “This is stunning. And so soft.”

I wrap it around her shoulders and step back, grinning.

“You look like a fairy princess,” I say, getting choked up. “And Christian is going to lose his shit when he sees you.”

“That’s the plan,” she says with a laugh. “Are we finished pinning?”

“Yep, I have it marked. You can put your clothes back on.” I tug the zipper down in back so she can easily step out of it, and she hurries into the changing room, pulls the curtain closed, and quickly changes into her jeans and sweater.

Just as she’s stepping into her snow boots, Melanie pokes her head around the corner.

“Willa?”

“Hi, Mel. We’re almost done here. Do you need me?”

“No, I just wanted to make sure everyone was dressed. Brad Hull is here to see you.”

“Must be wedding stuff,” Jenna says with a grin as Brad walks around the corner, but I can see by the look on his face that it’s not wedding stuff.

It’s bad.

“What’s going on?” I ask.

“Well, Willa, we went skiing.”

I have to sit in the chair before my legs give out from under me.

“Who? Was Alex there?” I know that my son is with my mom today, but maybe Max picked him up. Wouldn’t he call me?”

“No, Max, Christian, and some of the other guys. We went up this afternoon for a few runs, but Max was hurt.”

“No.” I shake my head, focusing on the floor. “No. He’s not hurt.”

“Jesus, how badly?” I hear Jenna ask as my heart beats out of my chest, and my hands shake. I can’t breathe. Is it hot in here? Why is it so hot in here?

“We don’t know,” Brad says grimly. “The ambulance took him to the hospital, and I came here to get you two.”

No. This can not be happening again. Not again. Not to Max.

“Come on, Willa, we have to go.”

“I can’t go,” I reply and jump up, putting my pins and scissors away. “I have too much to do. I have to hem Jenna’s dress, and I have to see to the store.”

“Willa,” Brad says, but I shake my head.

“I’m sorry, I can’t go.”

“Hey.” Jenna grabs my shoulders in her hands and makes me look her in the eye. “You have got to get your shit together, Willa, because Max needs us at the hospital.”

Tears swim in my eyes. “I can’t,” I whisper. “I can’t do this again.”

“Oh, baby,” she says, but doesn’t lose the firm grip on my shoulders. “You can, and you will. Your fiancé needs you right now.”

“Fiancé?” Brad asks in confusion.

“He asked her last night,” Jenna says, not looking away from me.

“Bastard didn’t say anything,” he mutters. “The car’s running, girls.”

“Come on,” she says, taking my hand and leading me out to the car, parked just outside the back door of the shop. She guides me into the passenger seat, and when both Jenna and Brad are seated, we zoom off toward the hospital, Brad flipping on the siren.

“You have a siren in your personal car?” I ask.

He doesn’t answer. He’s too intent on getting to the hospital, and I just feel numb.

What will I do if Max is gone? How can this be happening to me again?