5. Crossland

CHAPTER 5

Crossland

The church venue was packed with all of Brynn and Weston’s closest family and friends.

It was time for Weston to take the stage, but the groom was nowhere to be found.

I had a good idea where he was, and who exactly he was with. Especially when Brynn couldn’t be found, either.

I smiled as I walked through the guests, politely ignoring their questions about when the ceremony was going to start. One of Brynn’s aunts was more than pushy and had reminded me no less than three times that it was supposed to start twenty-five minutes ago. I would’ve left sooner and searched for the two, but I’d been distracted by all things Aspen.

The woman was a knockout in the gown she’d selected yesterday. I could honestly say I’d never had more fun watching a woman try on clothes before. I’d taken some dates shopping before, but never like that. And none of them had reacted with such endearing excitement about it, either. Aspen was the definition of down to earth, but she was absolutely sure of herself in a way that was completely refreshing, too.

She knew what she felt comfortable in and she knew what she looked great in. She knew what she didn’t like too, and I loved that about her. Especially because she had no qualms about telling me.

I’d been engrossed in a conversation with her when I realized we were running behind schedule. Well, I didn’t realize. Asher did.

The guy was a walking planner. Who needed a digital reminder when you had Asher Silas to keep you on schedule? He’d been about to stomp off to find our friends, but I reminded him that this wasn’t his event and that it was fine if they were late for their own ceremony.

He’d given me a stern look, and Daisy, his fiancée had laughed, distracting him by fixing his already immaculate tie.

I wandered around the hallways, walking casually in the hopes of giving my friends just a few more minutes of privacy before I ruined all their fun. Couldn’t really blame the two. They’d been looking forward to this day since they’d made things official a few months ago, and hadn’t been able to stop the PDA they subjected us to on a daily basis. Of course, isn’t that what love was about? Losing your mind over the other person, so much so you could barely stay away from each other?

I’d never felt it myself, but if I did, I highly doubt I’d hide it.

I turned down another charming hallway in the church that Brynn had picked out and meandered over to her dressing suite. The door was closed, and I wasn’t about to try and open it. Not when I knew my friends better than apparently some of the guests who’d speculated about why exactly Weston and Brynn were late.

I knocked on the door.

“The entire church is waiting,” I said in a singsong voice.

“In a minute,” Weston snapped.

The irritability in his voice made me laugh.

“Seriously, you two,” I grumbled. “It’s not like you don’t see each other every fucking day.” I chuckled, shaking my head and heading back down the hallway having successfully delivered a reminder that they weren’t the only two people in this building.

I leaned against the wall, folding my arms over my chest while I waited.

It didn’t take long before Weston and Brynn came out of the dressing room, Brynn frantically fixing her slightly mussed hair.

I smirked at the two of them, noting the flush on both their cheeks as they walked toward me. Brynn could barely even look me in the eye.

I stifled another laugh and did my best not to draw attention to what they’d clearly been doing before the ceremony.

Weston leaned down to whisper something in Brynn’s ear, and then turned to me, clapping me on the back as we rounded the corner and headed back toward the main event room.

“So,” I said. “How’s it going?”

Weston cocked a brow at me, flashing me an equally warning and ecstatic look. “Best day of my life,” he said with a grin. “Absolute best day of my life.”

We pushed through the double doors that led into the main event room at the church, and were greeted with a sudden silence as the audience hushed and looked our way. I winked at Brynn’s pushy aunt, pointing dramatically and mouthing the words I found the groom at her. She gave me a chiding look and shook her head but otherwise looked relieved as I followed Weston down the main aisle and up to the slightly raised platform where Asher, Gareth, and Ethan were anxiously waiting.

Aspen sat relaxed in her chair near the aisle and gave me an excited little wave that made my heart do a strange flip as I waved back and then winked at her.

“Wait,” Weston said as we reached our designated spots on the platform. “Isn’t that the same girl from the poker game last week?”

“The same,” Asher said, his gaze falling to Aspen. Gareth and Ethan and Weston followed his line of sight seconds later.

“Let’s not all stare at once, boys,” I said, rolling my eyes.

To Aspen’s credit, she didn’t flinch under the stares of my friends. Instead, she sat up a little straighter, giving them all a friendly wave and smile.

My friends focused on me, looks of utter confusion dancing over their faces.

“That’s the same girl,” Weston said.

“Yes,” I said. “We’ve established that.”

Music sounded from the small string quartet set up in the corner of the event hall. The double doors of the room swung open, and Brynn’s bridesmaids started walking down the aisle, queueing that this wedding had officially and finally started.

“You brought the same random date to my wedding?” Weston asked, his voice now lowered to where just the five of us could hear him.

I kept my face even and my hands relaxed at my sides as I nodded to each of the bridesmaids as they came and took their places across from us on the platform.

“My girlfriend,” I gently reminded him. “Aspen.”

“Your girlfriend,” he said but it sounded more like a question. “She’s actually your girlfriend?”

“Yes,” I whispered. “I told you that last week. I don’t know why you’re struggling now.”

“It’s just…” He struggled to speak.

“You don’t do girlfriends,” Gareth said in a no-nonsense tone that was just a little too loud for what was going on right now.

“This doesn’t seem like the time for this conversation,” I whispered. “Maybe we should talk about my relationship habits and your opinion about them later?”

“This conversation is the only thing keeping me from racing down the aisle and hurrying this thing up. I want Brynn⁠—”

“Pretty sure you have her,” I whispered, nodding toward the aisle.

Weston’s eyes widened as he snapped his gaze toward the open double doors and his soon-to-be-wife as she took the first step down the aisle.

Everything about his demeanor shifted.

One second, he’d been aloof and giving me shit. But now?

The man looked like he was unraveling with each step Brynn took toward him. He only had eyes for her, and if I wasn’t seeing things, I swore they were glittering with what looked a lot like happy tears.

The sight of my friend completely reduced to a speechless love-struck man had my chest tightening, and I swallowed hard.

Brynn finally made it to her spot in front of Weston, and there was no denying how gorgeous she looked. Pride swelled in my chest as the officiate started the processions. Two of my best friends were finally getting married after years of dancing around their feelings for each other.

I’m certain Ethan and I had a bet ten years ago that this would happen, but I couldn’t remember the stakes.

And it didn’t matter.

What mattered is that they had finally done what we all knew they wanted to do.

I turned around, glancing over my shoulder at Asher, Ethan, and Gareth, finding them smiling just as hard as I was. As much shit as we loved to give Wes over how long it took to finally acknowledge his feelings for his best friend, we couldn’t be prouder of him. There was no one better suited for him, and now they were getting to start the beginning of their happily ever after together.

As the officiate continued with the standard ceremonial rituals, I couldn’t help but wonder how my two friends made it look so easy? The act of choosing a partner to be with for the rest of forever didn’t seem like an easy decision to make. I mean, honestly, how did they know that in four months they’d still want to hang out with each other, let alone sleep together? How did they know that one or the other wouldn’t leave after growing bored with the antics that came with such a high-profile lifestyle like we lived? How could they trust the other person to keep their deepest, darkest secrets, the small confessions one made to such a person in the middle of the night when doubt and fear took over every other emotion?

Those types of confessions I’d always kept to myself, never even burdening my sister with some of the shit that crept up in my head.

It had always been me.

Ever since my parents passed away and I’d inherited the family empire, entrusted to keep it running and growing like it should. Just me. It’d been me who’d taken care of my teenage sister, comforted her during the grieving process, was strong for her during the more intense parts of healing, while never once letting her see how worried I was about failing. About taking what our parents had so graciously left us and ruining it.

Every single day, I lived with that weight. And yeah, maybe I used my adventurous lifestyle as a way to drown out the pressures that I constantly felt, but wasn’t that better than entrusting my entire, very heavy baggage to somebody else? Somebody who might end up leaving me in the end anyway?

My eyes traveled across the audience, most of them teary-eyed and smiling at our friends, until I found Aspen.

My paid-for date.

My fake girlfriend.

The one I couldn’t help but grin at as she pantomimed crying and then stealthily pointed at me, silently indicating that I was a big baby.

I checked myself, discreetly brushing away the one sliver of emotion I’d let show. But she’d made me smile. She seemed to have a knack for that. Then she covered her heart with her hands, swooning at me, and it was all I could do to not laugh out loud.

This girl.

She was nothing if not surprising, and the way she was so unapologetically herself did something to me.

I couldn’t wait to find out what she was going to say or do next, and it made this little arrangement of ours incredibly interesting. It didn’t help that she was also incredibly gorgeous, her body filling out that dress in a way that showed off every single one of her curves.

Curves that itched to be under my fingers.

But it was more than that. I genuinely liked being around her. Even during the plane ride over, when we’d had our crash course in personal history and dating facts, I never had the urge to put distance between us like I usually did with strangers. It was new for me.

Normally, especially on trips across the country, I found reasons to put my headphones on and lock into work.

And of course, that could be because the prior dates I’d had were casual, no-strings hookups. There’d been no reason to go in depth like Aspen and I had on the way over here.

This was all incredibly new to me. And part of me found it exciting, the unknown. But there was another part of me that was just as curious if Aspen would be acting the same if this were a real relationship. Or was she so funny and endearing and understanding because I was paying her?

I guess, in the end, it didn’t really matter, did it? Because this wasn’t a real relationship, and I was paying her.

I never thought I’d need to remind myself of that fact.

Applause erupted from the audience, everyone standing from their seats as they clapped for the newly crowned bride and groom. I returned my attention to my friends just in time to see them clasp hands and walk down the aisle, smiling and waving to their family and friends as they headed out of the main room.

Ethan took center stage and informed everyone where to go for the reception, just a quick walk outside to the veranda that had been fully transformed into a white silk tent and twinkle light fantasy, complete with champagne and appetizers and a live band.

I waited my turn and walked down the aisle behind my friends, only slowing to extend my arm for the designated bridesmaid that paired up with me, one of Brynn’s cousins who was a charming woman expecting her third child any day now. I walked her all the way to her assigned table and settled her in a cushioned seat, grabbing her a mocktail before I left her side.

The live band was already playing the requested songs from the bride and groom, but they were nowhere to be seen. Again.

“Insatiable,” I said when Asher found me near the bar. “Those two are absolutely insatiable.”

“Can you blame them?”

“No,” I said. “I can’t judge. Hell, you know me. I’ve treated sex like a marathon on the best of days, but these two seem determined to miss their own wedding. And what’s the point? It’s not like they’ll be spending the rest of their lives together?”

“You wouldn’t understand,” Asher said, then tilted his head. “Or would you?” His eyes trailed behind me, and I turned around.

He was looking at Aspen, who was talking to someone I didn’t recognize. A very tall masculine someone who was making her laugh.

“Isn’t that your girlfriend?” Ethan asked, joining our group.

“Looks like Weston’s Raptor rookie tight end is finding her quite interesting,” Gareth added as he joined us, sipping from his cocktail.

“What the fuck? He’s a Raptor?”

“Yep,” Gareth answered. “And a damn good one, too. Even as a rookie, he’s got a shit-ton of potential. I’m hoping I can trade him from Weston in the future. Just before he gets big.”

I couldn’t take my eyes off of Aspen and the way she looked up at the rookie, fully engaged in whatever the hell it was they were talking about. And then she laughed again, her smile bright, her head thrown back because whatever he said was so damn funny.

A foreign emotion sliced through me, an odd instinct that had me passing my drink to Ethan without looking back and heading straight for her.

I slid my hand along the small of her back, not so casually tucking her into my side as I locked eyes with the rookie.

“There you are,” I said, finally looking down at Aspen.

“Here I am,” she said in an equally sugary voice as she patted my chest. “I didn’t know if you were done with groomsmen duties yet,” she said, and then motioned to the rookie. “Jake was just explaining the difference between a running back and a tight end to me.”

“It’s never too late to learn,” Jake said, raising his drink toward her before taking a sip. Then he turned to me, reaching out a free hand. “You must be the boyfriend she was talking so much about. Crossland? You’re friends with Weston right?”

I shook his hand firmly before releasing it. “That’s me.”

“Nice,” he said. “I love hockey. Your team isn’t doing half bad, but I usually root for the underdogs, which doesn’t include yours or Asher’s team, huh?”

“No, I can’t say that we are,” I said. “If you’re looking for underdogs, Bangor is shaping up to be the absolute worst team in the league.” I brought up Doyle’s team and sighed, actually feeling sorry for the players who had such a prick for an owner.

The rookie laughed and shook his head. “I don’t root for that big of an underdog,” he said. “But I wouldn’t mind seeing Detroit rise in ranks a little bit before the end of the season.”

I nodded, respect overtaking whatever instinct had propelled me to stomp over here in the first place.

Was it jealousy?

That was a rare, unfamiliar feeling for me. And yet, I still had a possessive hand placed around Aspen’s hip. How could I be jealous of something that wasn’t even real?

I shifted my stance, relaxing a little bit and convincing myself that I was only interested in protecting the image that we were trying to portray to the public, especially to my friends.

That’s all.

My friends would expect me to come over here and make sure the rookie knew who Aspen belonged to. Because that’s what you did in a real relationship. I’d certainly seen Asher, Wes, and Ethan do their fair share of growling when the situation arose.

I looked down at Aspen, studying the features on her face as I tried to navigate these new emotions.

“You hungry?” I asked, unable to come to a firm conclusion.

“Always,” she said, grinning up at me before she offered that same smile to the rookie. “It was great chatting with you,” she said. “I’m definitely going to watch the Raptors now and cheer for you.”

“Thanks,” he said nodding to us both. “You’ll be able to see me play whenever the first string needs a break.”

I nodded to the guy, then gently guided Aspen away and toward one of the dessert tables across the room.

“Making friends?” I asked after she’d loaded up her plate with chocolate-covered strawberries, an array of delicate cookies dipped in caramel, and a few truffles.

“Yeah,” she said as we settled into a little free space near the tables. “Am I not supposed to?” she asked, her eyes flickering over me. She picked up a strawberry and wrapped her lips around the tip before sinking her teeth into it.

Jesus, I don’t know if I’d ever noticed how full and luscious her lips were until I watched her do that. And it made heat streak through my blood, every instinct roaring to slowly back her into the corner and see just how much she tasted like strawberries.

I took a deep breath, cooling off the instinct and reminding myself that she was not a date.

She was an investment.

“Of course, you can make friends,” I said, doing my best to school my features in a not-bothered-at-all look. “He just looked a little more interested in you than that.”

“You’re not jealous, are you?” she teased, her eyes lighting up. “We were just talking. He wasn’t interested⁠—”

“Maybe from your perspective,” I said. “But I could read the vibes pretty well.”

She chuckled softly before taking another bite. “One of the first things he asked was who I’d come with, and I immediately told him it was you. I promise, there was nothing to be jealous over.”

“I wasn’t jealous,” I said a little too quickly. “Besides, I’d have nothing to be jealous over, because this isn’t real,” I said the words quick and quietly so only she could hear. But for some reason, I immediately regretted it. It could’ve been because of the slight drop in Aspen’s shoulders or the flicker of hurt in her eyes.

But that couldn’t be right, could it?

She knew this wasn’t real, and I knew this wasn’t real, so why did it feel like we were having a real disagreement?

“You’re right,” she said sampling one of those truffles. “I just wanted you to know that we were just talking. And I didn’t think a conversation with a random, friendly stranger would make any of your friends think poorly of me.”

“They don’t,” I said trying to sound reassuring. “I just... It’s me. I’m still trying to figure out how to behave. I’ve never done this before.”

Aspen’s eyes softened, and she nodded. “You keep saying that like you need to explain it to me. I assure you, you don’t. I understand.”

Silence settled between us, one that wasn’t exactly comfortable, and I felt completely out of my element.

For some reason, I felt like I should apologize, but I didn’t know what for.

“They’re stunning,” Aspen said, her eyes locked across the room where a commotion had started.

Weston and Brynn had just made their grand entrance, and they truly did look blissfully happy.

“They really are,” I agreed with her, smiling at my friends as they took the dance floor, kicking off the first official dance of the reception. “You’ll love Brynn, I said. “She’s great. And Daisy and Alex, too. I think you’ll get along with all of them.”

“Will we be spending a lot of time together during the next three months?” Aspen asked.

“We tend to go most of the same events together, and every month we have our standard poker game. I imagine you’ll be seeing a lot of each other, and because they’re all so incredibly sharp, you’ll have to be extra careful and convincing around them. My boys might be easy to fool, but they’ll be the ones to watch out for.”

Aspen laughed, finishing the desserts on her plate and thanking the server who came over to take it out of her hands. “Are you doubting my abilities in this mission? I’m a girl, after all. I think I can handle girl bonding time.”

“I would never doubt you,” I said. “I’ve seen your determination, and if you put in even one percent of that into our little arrangement, it’ll already be going above and beyond.”

Something like pride shone in her eyes, and she grinned up at me.

Couples started flocking to the dance floor, surrounding the bride and groom as they moved to the music.

I offered my hand and looked down at her. “Shall we, darling?”

She laughed again, but took my hand. “Absolutely, sugar.”