CRASH THE WEDDING 

GWENDOLY POV

It was past 8:00 A.M., and Bryn hadn't replied to a single one of my text messages or picked up any of my damn calls.

I'd stayed awake all night, waiting to hear the sound of my car returning or my phone ringing.

Neither happened.

I finished the team’s morning physicals. Bryn was nowhere to be found.

Coach Zach was already yelling at the rest of the team to move their asses.

Then the door slammed open.

Bryn walked in looking like shit.

His hair was a mess, his clothes were rumpled, and there were dark circles beneath his eyes.

He dropped into the chair next to me.

“It's over, Gwen. I'm completely fucked.”

“What happened?”

I immediately stopped what I was doing and pulled my chair closer.

My anger evaporated immediately.

“That bastard caused this. If he hadn't taken Eve from me, none of this would be happening.”

He stood and started pacing, running both hands through his hair.

“Bryn. Sit down and tell me what actually happened.”

“What am I supposed to do, Gwen? How do I even fix this?”

He kept pacing, and my irritation slowly returned.

“You still haven't told me what happened.”

He stopped. Then stared at me.

“I've been benched from the regular season game.”

I stared at him. “What?”

He gave a short, bitter laugh.“Coach Zach said my stunt yesterday made the team look bad. A hockey star showing up at a club right after a public mess isn't exactly good publicity for the team.”

I let out a breath. Coach Zach wasn’t wrong. But hockey was Bryn’s whole life. Missing a season game would wreck him.

“What are you gonna to do?”

His expression hardened.“I'm going to ruin him.”

Of course. We were back to Eve.

Back to that damn woman.

“Bryn, I don't think that's a good idea. Zachary is just angry right now. He'll probably change his mind once he cools off.”

“No, Gwen.” He shook his head. “My mind is made up. It's either I kill that guy or I crash his wedding.”

I looked at him like he’d lost it. “Are you serious right now?”

“Either way, he’s gonna feel what he did to me.”

He dropped back into the chair.

Then he looked at me like I was some fascinating specimen under a microscope.

“Gwen, you’ve been my best friend for years. I know you want what’s best for me. I need—”

“No.”

I cut him off immediately.

He blinked. “No?”

“Yes.”

“But you haven't even heard what I need your help with.”

“I don't need to.”

“Gwen, this is my future we're talking about.”

“I don’t have to. If you need help getting back on the team, I'll gladly help you.” I pointed a finger at him. “But murder or crashing a wedding? Absolutely not.”

“We’ll only be gone three weeks—”

“Fuck no, Bryn.”

He stared hard at me.

Then is expression darkened. “How can you be this selfish?”

Something snapped inside me.

Selfish?

After all these years? After every injury I patched up, every late-night crisis, every time I dropped everything for him?

And he had the nerve to call me selfish?

“Bryn.” I pointed toward the door. “Get out.”

He blinked. “Are you seriously kicking me out?”

“Get. Out.”

He stood up slowly. “Okay. But think about what I said.”

He actually smiled, like this whole conversation was normal, then walked out.

The door clicked shut.

I leaned back and exhaled hard.

How the hell did he come up with crashing his ex’s wedding and somehow think I’d help?

He’d officially lost his mind.

The door opened again.

I turned, already pissed. “One more word, Bryn, and I swear—”

I froze.

It wasn't Bryn.

A woman stood in the doorway.

Elegant. Poised. And intimidating as hell.

I knew her immediately.

Velvet Walker. 

Bryn's mother.

And from the look on her face, she wasn’t here to talk about hockey.

“Can I come in?”

Velvet’s voice was soft, the kind that makes saying no feel impossible.

“Yeah. Come in, Mrs. Walker.”

She stepped inside and sat in the same chair Bryn had just left.

She smiled. “Call me Velvet.”

I nodded and sat across from her, suddenly very aware of how messy my desk looked.

“Bryn just left. I can call him back if you want—”

“Don’t bother.” She crossed her legs. “I’m here to see you.”

That made me sit up straighter.

“Okay…”

She glanced around the office. “Nice setup you’ve got.”

“Thanks.”

Then she got straight to it.

“How’s Bryn taking the benching?”

“Not great. But Coach will probably cool off. Bryn’s the best center we’ve got.”

Velvet nodded once. “And Eve?”

I didn’t answer.

Apparently, my silence told her everything.

She sighed. “He’s going to try to get her back, isn’t he? Probably crash the wedding.”

I stared at her. “How did you—Has he done something like this before?”

Velvet exhaled slowly and nodded.

“He’s done it before. Because of that girl.” Her face hardened. “She’s had him wrapped around her finger for years and I’m done watching it.”

She leaned forward and took my hands.

“I know I shouldn’t get involved in his love life. But I’m his mother. I can’t just sit back while one woman ruins him.”

She squeezed my hands. “You understand that, don’t you?”

I nodded. I did. More than she knew.

Velvet’s voice softened. “You’re a good girl, Gwen. And I know you’ve been in love with my son for years.”

My head snapped up. Heat rushed to my face.

She smiled like she’d just confirmed something.

“Bryn needs someone like you.”

My heart started pounding.

Then she said the words that completely changed everything.

“I have a deal to offer you.”

I swallowed. “What kind of deal?”

“If he still insists on going to that wedding, I want you to go with him to Los Angeles.”

I blinked.

“And do what?”

“I want you to make him forget Eve.”

My mouth fell open. 

“You want me to… replace her?”

“Yes.” Her eyes stayed steady. “And if that means sleeping with him, then yes.” She paused, “Can you do that, Gwen?”

.My heart nearly jumped out of my chest.

“You want me to sleep with Bryn?”

“Yes. In return, I’ll make sure you get the permanent sports medicine director position with the NHL next season.”

I stopped breathing.

My dream job.

The job I'd spent years working toward.

The one I'd never dared to believe I could actually get.

Velvet watched me. “There’s more. If this works… you’ll have a wedding of your own to plan. With Bryn.”

My mind went completely blank.

Bryn. My dream job.

A future with the man I'd loved for eight years.

It sounded too perfect. Almost suspiciously perfect.

But for the first time, it also felt possible.

Maybe eight years of loving Bryn hadn't been for nothing.

I took a deep breath.

“Okay,” I said. “You’ve got a deal.”

Velvet smiled and stood. “Good. I’ll see you in Los Angeles in three weeks. But, this is our little secret.”

“Off course, Velvet”

Her smile widened.

The door clicked shut behind her.

I sat there for a few seconds, staring at the closed door.

Then I grabbed my phone and called Bryn.

He picked up right away. “Gwen?”

“Get the tickets ready.” I grinned. “We’re crashing a wedding.”