Page 38 of Stuck with my Brother's Firefighter Besties

At first, the idea of being stuck in the cabin didn’t seem so bad. It was cozy, with the fire crackling and the scent of hot chocolate lingering in the air. I could play with Biscuit and pretty much ignore everyone else…right?

But as the hours dragged on, the close quarters began to take their toll.

The tension was palpable.

I could feel it radiating off Jaxon, who had barely said a word since breakfast. He sat by the window, pretending to be engrossed in the storm outside, but his jaw was tight and his hands were clenched around his coffee mug.

Colt, on the other hand, was his usual infuriatingly charming self, making jokes and lunch too, with an easy grin that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

And then there was Ryan, who hovered around all of us, quietly keeping himself busy but casting occasional glances in my direction that made my stomach twist.

I didn’t know how to act around any of them.

After everything that had happened—the stolen glances, the teasing, the… kiss—I felt like I was walking on a tightrope.

One Ineededto get off of.

And then there was Biscuit, blissfully oblivious to the tension. My corgi trotted around the cabin, wagging his stubby tail and trying to charm scraps of food from everyone.

“Hey, Biscuit!” Colt called, tossing a piece of bacon onto the floor. “You’re the only one around here who appreciates me.”

Biscuit scrambled for the treat, earning a laugh from Colt and a groan from Ryan.

“Stop feeding him,” Ryan muttered, shaking his head. “You’re going to spoil him.”

“Too late,” I said, smiling despite myself. “Biscuit was born spoiled.”

Colt shot me a wink. “Must run in the family.”

I rolled my eyes, but my cheeks burned.

Jaxon finally broke his silence, his voice low but sharp. “Can we not?”

The room went still. Colt raised an eyebrow, unfazed. “Not what?”

“You know what,” Jaxon said, his eyes locking onto Colt’s.

Oh, no.

The air between them crackled with unspoken tension.

I sank deeper into my seat, wishing I could disappear. Biscuit, sensing the shift, hopped onto my lap and licked my hand as if to say,it’s okay. You’ve got me.

I didn’t know what the hell was going on between Jaxon and Colt, but I had a horrible feeling I was right in the middle of it.

Ryan cleared his throat, stepping in before things could escalate. “Anyone up for a board game?”

Colt leaned back, smirking. “Sure. Let’s play Monopoly. I’ll crush you all.”

“Not happening,” I said quickly. “Monopoly always ends in someone flipping the board.”

“Probably Jaxon,” Colt muttered under his breath.

“Excuse me?” Jaxon snapped, standing up.

“Okay!” I said, my voice louder than I intended. “How about we play something… less competitive? Like Pictionary?”

Colt grinned. “Fine by me. But fair warning, I’m terrible at drawing.”

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