Tricks Of The Game

Chapter 46

*Brianna's POV*

Walking into the home locker room, Kelsey, Chaunette, and Darla had already started to getting everything set up. Because I didn't buy an actual dress, we spent the money on a beautician, who would be in charge of all of us girls, making sure we were perfect.

"Bri, there's a robe hanging in Brandon's stall for you. It's a little gift from all of us." Chaun pointed over to Brandon's stall, hanging from the same spot his jersey should've been, was a pearly white robe with the word "Bride" written across the back.

"Thanks. That was really sweet of you guys to do that." Slipping the robe off the hanger, Kelsey took it out of my hands, motioning for me to undress. Slipping off my comfy yoga pants and one of Brandon's t-shirts, I slipped my arms into the robe as it grasped my shoulders. Tying the belt the best I could, there was a knock on the door. Kelsey yelled "Come in," as the door opened slowly. Evelyn came bounding through the open door, followed by Jonathan, who had his hands over his eyes.

"Everything all clear?" Kelsey answered with a mumbled yes, Jon dropped his hands from his eyes, as he looked around the room. "Brandon told me to bring Evelyn to you so she could get ready. And Brandon wanted me to give this to you. A little pre-wedding gift." Taking the box from his hands, he stared down at me, as I undid the bow on top of the Tiffany box. Under the lid, was a charm bracelet, with a few charms already melded to it. There was a fire truck to represent my dad, a spatula to represent my mom, a fighter jet to represent Matthew, a hockey stick, the letters B, E, H, and S, and the Blackhawks logo.

"My God, it's beautiful. Did you know he had done this?" Jonathan nodded, taking the bracelet from my hands.

"Give me your wrist." Holding my left wrist out for him, he wrapped the bracelet around my wrist, clasping the hook in the middle of the chain.

"Thank you Jonathan, for everything. I know we didn't work out like we should have, but in the time I was with you, you were absolutely amazing. I couldn't have asked for anything more than what you gave me." As tears began to slip down Jonathan's face, Evelyn came over, tapping me on the leg.

"Momma, where's my dress? I want to see it." Looking at Chaun, she motioned Evelyn towards her, as she took her into the shower room.

"I'm sorry for everything. I know it's not an excuse, but with the season starting, the stresses were already too much. I let it get the best of me. I didn't mean to do it." The tears slipped down his face, his breath ragged.

"I know Jon, I know you didn't mean to, but it might have been a sign, I'm not sure." Pulling Jonathan into a hug, I held him as close as I could, as close as my belly would let me.

"I'm sorry, I should be going. I'll talk to you later." As Jonathan exited the locker room, Kelsey walked up to me, a scowl plastered on her face.

"Don't start. You know I would only be saying that to keep him sane." She shrugged her shoulders, as the sound of another knock washed over the room. "Come in." The beautican came through the door, as Kelsey nudged me towards the chair that had been set up for it.

"Ready beautiful?" Nodding, Heather got to work on my make-up. T-minus 1 hour.

*Brandon's POV*

"Are you sure it's straight? It doesn't look very straight Andrew." As Andrew adjusted my bowtie once more, I noticed Duncan sitting in one of the stalls behind us. "Duncs, man, you alright?" Looking up, tears stained his cheeks.

"God, everything minus this wedding is so fucked up in my life. Kelsey is pissed at me, she wants to have a baby, but I don't want another one. Colton is enough for me, but not for her. I know I'm being selfish, but I would like to enjoy my time with the both of them." Sitting on either side of him, Andrew and I exchanged worried glances.

"Where is this coming from? You were both so excited for the baby." Duncan pushed himself up from the stall, pacing in front of Shawzer and I.

"Man, I was excited Kelsey was finally mine. I never wanted that baby. It was always something that would belong to Patrick. It was never really mine, and I couldn't handle that. That means he won, if Kelsey had the baby. I just, I wish he would go away, get out of my life, leave Kelsey alone. He's scared her enough already, I just to be the one to fix her again." A knock on the door made Duncan stop pacing, as he stared at the door.

"Come in." Opening the door, Jonathan walked in, his eyes obviously red and puffy from crying. Behind Jonathan was Matthew and Patrick. "Matt, glad you're doing this." Meeting him halfway, I clasped his hand in mine, equal strong grips from the both of us.

"I'm happy Bri asked me to do this. I've always been her other protector aside from her dad. Although, I can never live up to him, but she'll always be my girl, I hope you understand that." Nodding, I looked back at Patrick who was standing by the doors with a shit-eating grin on his face.

"Sharpie, what's your problem?" With all eyes on him, he grabbed the door handle, slightly opening the door.

"Duncs, I still won. I marked her as mine, no matter what you do, I had my taste of her first." As Sharpie headed out the door, Duncs stopped pacing, as he turned towards the door.

"You know what Patrick, you did. You're definitely the winner. You know what Kelsey named him when the nurse asked? Lucas James Sharp, and you weren't even fuckin' there!" Stopping in the doorway, Patrick turned to face the room, as everyone fell silent. "Get the fuck out." Patrick walked out the door, his head hung low. 

"So, I think it's time I get married, what do you think?" The guys nodded, as Duncan recomposed himself. Walking out the same door Patrick had just passed through, we made our way towards the ice, as Matt parted ways with us to go get Brianna. 

Stepping onto the carpet runway that trailed from the bench to center ice, I slowly walked up the pathway, glancing on either side of me, seeing our friends and family sitting there. The carpet that lay on either side of the runway had at least 100 chairs lined up, neat rows taking up that space. As I reached the altar that had been built by Matt, I turned back to look down the pathway leading back to where I had just emerged from. The sound of violins playing started up as Chaunette and Andrew gracefully walked towards me. Following them was Darla and Kaner, the couple who wasn't a couple, as Brianna put it. Next was the maid of honor and best man, Kelsey and Duncan. Even after all the things they had been through, and what Duncan had just admitted to us, they were still able to force a smile. Stepping onto the runway was Colton, who was the ring bearer, and Evelyn, the flower girl. They tried to stay together, but Colton always seemed ahead of Evelyn. As they reached me, Evelyn ran up to me, as I lifted her into my arms, giving her a hug, as she kissed my cheek. Setting her down, she went and stood in front of Kelsey, as the music changed to "Here comes the bride." Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath, thinking of all the memories that were to come. Opening my eyes, my sight landed on Brianna, her white knee length dress flowing over her baby bump. Making her way towards me with Matt on her arm, I knew I had made the right decision all along. In that very moment, I saw everything I wasn't, in her.