My sister would tell him to leave right now if I asked her. And then she would corner me for an explanation I can’t give.

Before I can decide on a response to her question, Saanvi stiffens and folds her arms. “Look who’s finally here.”

I follow her gaze to the bustle of the aunts’ excited squeals as Sabrina steps onto the patio. My cousin is as striking as ever with her long red hair and perfect ivory skin. I was so jealous of her when we were growing up. She was the classic American beauty that adolescent me longed to be. It took me until I was in college to see the beauty of my olive skin, dark hair, and dramatic curves.

Those insecurities slammed back into me full force when Health cheated on me with her. It was just once. One drunken blow job. The first domino of many that turned my happy little life into a disaster I needed to run from.

Sabrina doles out hugs to our relatives before spotting Saanvi and rushing toward us with open arms. “Saanvi! I thought I’d never get here.”

Sighing, my sister hugs our cousin. “That makes two of us.”

“I’m so sorry I missed the rehearsal. And the henna!” Sabrina steps back and takes one of Saanvi’s hands in hers, investigating it in the dim light. “Oh, it’s beautiful.”

“Thank you,” Saanvi says, and I can feel the tension drain from her. She’s never been able to stay mad at Sabrina for long. “Pari said she can come to your room tonight to do your hands if you want.”

Sabrina presses her palm to her chest. “She’d do that for me? That would be wonderful.” She smiles at me, but I can’t help but notice that she doesn’t offer me a hug. “Teagan, it’s so good to see you.”

“You too.” We’re both lying, and we know it. I already feel an ache in my gut at the sight of the cousin. She’s never forgiven me for what she saw in Heath’s bedroom that day more than four years ago, and I’ve never had the courage to explain. I let her believe the worst of me because the truth made me feel even dirtier than the lie.

“How’d the rehearsal go?” she asks, her gaze swinging back to Saanvi.

“Smoothly, considering we were missing a bridesmaid,” Saanvi says, but there’s no bitterness in her voice. “Teagan’s boyfriend stood in as you while we ran through the ceremony and figured out where everyone will stand.”

My gaze drifts to Carter again. His antics at the rehearsal gave me my only genuine smiles of the whole afternoon. Carter made us all laugh, pretending to hold a bouquet and lifting his imaginary skirts as he walked up and down the church steps.

“I didn’t know you had a boyfriend,” Sabrina says, smacking my arm lightly. “Do tell!”

I shrug. “We’ve been dating a couple of months. His name is Carter Jackson.” I nod across the patio to the man in question. He’s engrossed in one of my dad’s stories and doesn’t notice us.