“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.