Crazy for Your Love (Boys of Jackson Harbor 5)

“I’m not done!” She’s crying and swipes angrily at her tears. “And now Teagan is with Carter, who’s supposedly in love with her even though he slept with me four weeks ago.”

Murmurs rise from the crowd, and heads turn in every direction, as if they can’t decide whether to look at me, Sabrina, or Carter. Carter’s staring at me. I can handle the questions in his eyes. What I can’t handle is the hurt, the betrayal.

“In my defense,” Sabrina says, “I didn’t know she and Carter were together then. I came to town to do a story on him. We had a couple of drinks and went to his place . . . You know the rest of the story. I was an idiot, but now that I’ve had a chance to think about it, I’m glad you two are together. Because you deserve each other.”

Mom yanks the microphone out of Sabrina’s hand. “That’s enough.”

I try to catch Mom’s eye, but she doesn’t even look at me. I’m shaking and speechless and horrified. Every set of eyes on me feels like an accusation, a guilty verdict. Is this really happening? It feels like a bad dream—like someone else’s drama on TV.

Saanvi looks between me and Sabrina and shakes her head. “I’m sorry,” she says softly.

She’s apologizing to me. The decisions I made brought us here. I ruined her wedding, but still she’s the one whispering the apology. Two little words, delivered with love, and I don’t deserve them.

I shake my head furiously. “Don’t. Don’t apologize.”

Tears roll down her cheeks, and her husband leans forward and kisses her shoulder before saying something in her ear.

She nods.

Everyone at Carter’s table is staring at him. He’s stony-faced, his jaw hard. Seeing that steely façade of his in place is worse than the hurt I saw there last night.

“It’s not Carter’s fault,” I blurt. I can’t bear to have everyone here think he’s a cheater. He shouldn’t be punished for doing me a favor. I don’t have a mic, but the whole crowd goes quiet to listen to me. “When Sabrina came to town a few weeks ago, he had every right to do whatever he wanted with her. We weren’t a couple then.” Murmurs of confusion fill the room. I draw in a breath. “I asked Carter to pretend to be my boyfriend so I wouldn’t have to come to this wedding alone.”

At the sound of a sob, I turn away from the guests to see my sister staring at me, tears rolling down her cheeks. “I’m sorry, Saanvi.”

She shakes her head. “How could you? How could you lie to me?”

I catch sight of Rich down at the other end of the room. He folds his arms and leans back against the wall. Is this what he wanted? For everyone to find out what we did? For everyone to believe I cheated on the man I loved?

“I couldn’t handle the idea of being close to Rich. You invited him to stay with us, and I didn’t feel . . . safe.”

Mom blanches. “Teagan, really?”

“He scares me, Mom. He was so controlling when we were together. Didn’t you see it? He told me what to wear, who I could be friends with, what parties I could go to. I loved him, and I had no idea how bad it was until I got away. When I went to college, I escaped him and that control, and I was so glad. But when I came home, he’d become like a son to you. I was forced to accept him back into my life. When I started dating Heath, I thought it’d be okay. If I was dating his friend he’d have to let me go, but he still found ways to manipulate me. To make Heath doubt me. And then when Heath died . . .” I squeeze my eyes shut. I don’t want to tell this story. Not here. Not now. “Please, don’t choose him over me.”

“I would never,” Mom whispers. “Oh, Teagan, why didn’t you say something?”

A sob lodges in my throat. Courage. “I was afraid you wouldn’t believe me. I was afraid you’d let him convince you I was crazy.”

“You’re my daughter,” she says, intensity vibrating through every whispered word. “We might not agree on everything, but I will always choose you.”

She pulls me into a hug—so tight and comforting that I regret every minute I didn’t trust her to take my side.

When she releases me, I scan the crowd to find Carter. He’s gone.

I turn to my sister. “I’m so sorry, Saanvi. You have no idea how sorry. For all of this.” Then I run from the reception, feeling every single pair of eyes on me as I chase after the man Sabrina has proven I don’t deserve.

Teagan

I’m somehow not surprised to find Carter in the empty office by Levi’s. I can’t believe it was only a week ago that we were tangled up together in here. It feels like decades have passed. Now, instead of two adults blurring the lines of their friendship for the first time, we’re two people who’ve shared a bed, secrets, and passion.