“I’m so sorry, babe. I did a terrible job standing up for you and making sure you weren’t getting steamrolled. That’s why you wanted me here, and I failed you.”

Cricket shakes her head. “No, because I shouldn’t have needed someone to speak up for me. I should’ve been able to do it myself. But I was so afraid that Hunter would be disappointed in me. That he’d realize I wasn’t the person he was supposed to be with, because I was too different from what his mother wanted for him.”

“Oh, honey. Don’t say that.” Even as I console Cricket, I can relate to her feelings perfectly. If Mrs. Riscoff were still alive, her presence would definitely impact my relationship with Lincoln.

“All those reasons you’re giving are exactly why he loves you. And if Hunter were dumb enough to ever to listen to his mother over your express wishes, he wouldn’t deserve you.”

My cousin looks down at her clasped hands. “I know. But I still can’t shut down that voice in my head telling me it’d be easier if we weren’t together.”

“But would it make you happier if you weren’t together?”

Her face lifts to mine, and sadness is etched into her features. “No. I already hate myself for running away from him, but there was no way I could stay and face everything for another minute without breaking.”

Cricket bursts into tears again, and I hold her tight, letting her cry out all of her confusion and despair.

“We’re going to figure it out. I promise.”

“But if Karma’s telling the truth . . .”

“Shhh,” I tell her as she hiccups again. “Let’s just worry about one thing at a time. You love Hunter, and he loves you. You can figure out everything else later.”

After we finish our wine and Cricket passes out on the couch, I find a blanket and use it to cover her. I tuck myself in at the other end and pull out my phone.

Whitney: Bring Hunter tomorrow. Cricket needs him.

Lincoln: I wouldn’t be able to keep him away even if I tried. Love you and miss you already.

Thirty-Six

Lincoln

I’ve never seen Hunter so calm and controlled as I did last night when he spoke to Karma, and she basically told him that if Ricky Rango hadn’t died, she never would have told Hunter the twins were his. She was too busy collecting her payment for “child support” every month from the idiot rock star because she’d been sleeping with him on and off for ten years.

It took every ounce of self-control I possessed not to pick her up and shake her for that. How is it possible for one woman to cause so much destruction?

And then there was Hunter’s mother. Mrs. Havalin had to be removed from the premises at The Gables under threats of being sedated after Mr. Havalin rushed her out of the room where the rehearsal dinner was being held. She left the hotel ranting that no one was allowed to jilt her son, and the entire Havalin family would be humiliated by the fact that the wedding was canceled.