Mrs. Havalin recoils at Lincoln’s statement, and I’m thankful that he’s able to intimidate her into shutting up.

Asa moves into the row next to Jackie, making me thankful that someone’s there to hold her back if Mrs. Havalin speaks up again. Luckily, her mouth has been frozen in a tight smile since Lincoln’s pointed remark.

The rest of the rehearsal moves along smoothly, despite Mrs. Havalin’s sour face and crappy attitude, and I hope that means that the rest of the night will be easy and fun. And it is.

At least . . . until we get to the rehearsal dinner.

“I knew you were the one,” Hunter says as part of his toast. “Even if you did make me wait five years for our second date.”

Everyone starts laughing, but beside me, Cricket tenses and whispers a question to me out of the side of her mouth. “What is he talking about? Five years?”

On my other side, Karma’s laughter grows louder and harsher, and the hair at the nape of my neck stands on end. Oh sweet Jesus. What now?

Cricket leans forward and looks over me to Karma at the same moment I do. Karma covers her mouth with her hand, practically choking on her mirth. Hunter goes quiet, and everyone in the room follows suit. Every bit of attention shifts to Karma as she rocks back and forth in her chair, cackling.

Oh. My. God. A thought hits me, and it’s the last thing in the world I want to be thinking. No, she didn’t.

Cricket bolts up out of her seat, all semblance of patience gone. “Karma, tell me right now what the hell you did.”

The rest of the guests, mostly members of the Havalin family, begin to murmur, and Hunter stands beside Cricket.

“Baby, what’s wrong?”

Cricket looks up at her fiancé. “I didn’t make you wait five years for a second date, Hunter. That was our first date.”

Hunter’s face pales as he realizes what she’s saying. “What the fuck? Then—” His gaze darts to Karma.

Tears stream down Karma’s face as she continues to snort-laugh. “This is too perfect. I couldn’t have planned it better myself.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Cricket demands.

Aunt Jackie rises next. “Karma, what’s going on?” She keeps her tone even, but it’s clear she’s concerned and jumping to the same conclusion we all are.

“It wasn’t totally my fault. He just assumed . . . so I went with it.”

Oh. My. God.

“You pretended to be me? With my fiancé?” Cricket screeches.

“He wasn’t your fiancé then! He was drunk; we were at the bar. One thing led to another, and . . .”

Cricket spins around to face Hunter. “Please tell me she’s lying. Please tell me this isn’t happening. Please tell me anything but this.”

“She answered to your name. I thought—”

“Oh. My. God.” Mrs. Havalin jumps out of her chair. “Of course this would happen. I told you not to marry that girl! She and her family are trash.”