She came to Jackson Harbor and didn’t even tell me she was here. Of course. Because she still doesn’t like me after . . . everything. I try not to let it sting, but it does. “Did you tell him you were my cousin?”
She shrugs. “Your name never came up.”
I lift my chin. “I guess you had no way of knowing he and I were close friends.”
“And more,” she says softly. “Apparently.”
For the first time, Carter tears his attention away from my father and looks across the patio, spotting us. There’s heat in his eyes when he grins at me, his eyes dragging over my dress in a way that suggests how he plans to peel it off me later. Then his gaze shifts to Sabrina, and he does a double take and pales.
I don’t blame him. He wants the attention from the puppy incident to die down, and now he’s going to be right next to a story-hungry journalist for the rest of the weekend.
“You know, I’m feeling a little jet-lagged,” Sabrina says. “I think I’ll go say goodnight to the happy couple and see about getting Pari to do my henna in the morning so I can tuck in early.” Her throat bobs. “I want to be at my best for Saanvi’s big day tomorrow.”
I nod. I’ve had enough awkward small talk anyway. I’m ready to sneak away with Carter, apologize for my mood at dinner, and have him hold me until I forget that Rich was in our room earlier. Instead I have to figure out how to get to Rich’s room tonight without Carter knowing. “Okay, sure. It was good to see you.”
“You too.” Her gaze lands on Carter again, but this time I see something like longing in her eyes.
He’s mine, bitch. I swallow the hateful words, and when she brings her gaze back to me, I simply smile. “Sleep well.”
Carter
I can’t tear my eyes off the redhead as she walks away from Teagan and heads into the building. Sabrina the journalist and the journalist bridesmaid are the same fucking person. If I hadn’t been so preoccupied by Teagan and the shit with Rich, maybe the thought would have occurred to me. It should have.
I’m so fucked.
Frantically, I look to Teagan. I need to get her alone so we can figure out what the hell we’re supposed to do. I stare her down, trying to get her attention, but she’s busy staring at her phone. Seems like she’s been busy staring at anything but me all night. I hate it. It’s like she’s already pushing me away, and I have to remind myself over and over again not to cling to that which was never mine.
“You’re coming out with us tonight, right, Carter?” Liam asks.
“Of course he is,” Trevor says, slinging an arm around my shoulders. “Guys gotta stick together.”
“I don’t know. I was hoping to turn in early with my girl.”
Trevor waves away my objection. “You get to see her all the time. When’s the next time we’ll all get to go out again? Probably not until you and Teagan tie the knot.”
I swallow at the image his words flash into my mind and the feeling that it’s beyond my reach. Teagan in white, wearing my ring, promising to be mine. Don’t think about it.
“Just for a couple of drinks,” Liam says, grinning. “Come on. You can make sure we order the best beers. We’re counting on you.”
My phone buzzes. Teagan. But once again it’s not, and when I see the text, my stomach sinks.
Sabrina: Does she know we slept together?
I darken the screen before the curious eyes around me can read it. I feel this whole charade falling apart. Fuck, fuck, fuck. I need to talk to Teagan so we can figure out a plan. She’s already pushing me away. What happens when she finds out I had a one-night stand with her cousin? Will she shut down, stop this between us before we even get a real chance to start? Should we tell Sabrina the truth to keep this from imploding on us? Tell her Teagan and I weren’t exclusive back when Sabrina came to town? At the very least, we need to get our stories straight.
“What do you say?” Liam asks. “Join us?”
I slide my phone back into my pocket as it buzzes again, just as Rich returns to the party and takes Teagan by the arm. My whole body goes into battle mode.
Don’t fucking touch her.
“Everything okay, Carter?” Liam asks.
“Yeah. I think so. I’ll be right back.”
“Carter,” Rich calls when he spots me walking toward them. He waves me over. “Just the man I want to see.”
I watch Teagan’s posture beside this man she loathes, a study in casual grace. Is she trying to pretend that he doesn’t bother her for the sake of the rest of the party? I know she doesn’t want anything to do with Rich—or so she says—but then, she couldn’t keep her eyes off him tonight. What’s that about? And why has she kept me at an arm’s length all afternoon? Did something happen between them?