“Sure,” Gina said, and some of the tension drained from me. “Just as soon as you tell me where you’ve been sleeping.”
I didn’t know what to say to that. The Annas obviously thought they had proof that I’d been staying with the guys, and they likely did, since it was true. Or maybe they’d planted some. I had no doubt that they’d somehow arranged for my golf cart to be parked next to Brock’s today.”
“Maddie?” Gina said again.
“There was nowhere else to go.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my mom put her fingers on her temples and rub them. She got headaches so easily—I hated that I’d caused one. Or, rather, that the evil stepcousins had due to their hatred of me.
A moment later, my dad stood up and led her away. So much for family support.
Then a new voice spoke up. It was Kincade’s stepmother. “I’m sorry to report that that young woman came to me early in the week. She had a lot of questions about marrying into a wealthy family. At first, I thought she was asking on behalf of her sister, but it soon became clear that she was laying plans for herself. She asked me if I knew of any way to persuade a rich man to forgo a prenuptial agreement.”
“No, I didn’t. I’ve never even talked to her.”
Brock cursed, and again, I motioned for him to stay down. Sitting next to those three made me look bad enough. Anything they said now in my defense would make me look completely guilty.
But I could still defend myself. “This is ridiculous. I never said anything about prenups. And Gina and Doug, I’d never do anything to mess up your week. I spent months helping you plan it.”
“Then why are you sleeping with the best men?” Savanna asked.
“We’re not sleeping together,” I said, exasperated. But then I thought about what happened at the waterfall. How we’d been naked together. How they’d made me come. My face turned red.
Doug’s parents stood up. At first, I thought they were going to leave like my parents did, but they didn’t. “I think this dinner is officially over,” Mr. Cabot said. “I think everyone should go back and rest up. We’ll figure all of this out later.”
“There’s nothing to figure out. They’re lying,” I said, but no one was listening. Doug’s uncle and his lying wife were already headed back to the lodge, with Doug’s parents trailing after them.
I looked around to see that my guys had moved, too. Kincade was arguing with his stepsisters. He looked furious. Brock was talking with Doug. And Jessie was waiting for me, looking anxious. He took a step toward me, but I held up my hand. If he hugged me, I knew I’d burst into tears. He nodded in understanding. “What do you need, Maddie?”
“I need my sister to believe me,” I said.
Gina was alone when I reached her, since Brock was still talking to Doug. She spoke before I could. “What a complete mess.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I know you wanted a stress-free lead up to your wedding day.”
“I did. I really did. That’s why I wanted to have the damn rehearsal dinner tonight. So that tomorrow could be calm and relaxing.” She ran her fingers through her hair in frustration. “No chance of that now.”
“I’m sorry,” I said again. “I knew that Hanna and Savanna didn’t like me, but I had no idea that they—”
“How could you do this to me, Maddie?”
Shocked, I stared at my sister. I thought she understood. “I had nowhere else to go.”
Gina gave a bitter laugh. “An entire island, and you have no choice but to sleep with three men?”
“I didn’t sleep with them,” I said, but again, the scene from the waterfall entered my mind and got my thoughts all twisted up.
“I thought you supported my marriage,” Gina said.
“I do! Of course I do.” A tear rolled down my cheek. Every single thing my sister said hurt far more than anything the evil stepcousins and their awful mother had said.
Gina turned away from me. “You’ve never wanted me to have anything you don’t have.”
“What?” My voice was hoarse.
“I’m marrying an amazing man, and yes, he’s rich. But I thought you were happy for us. I never thought you’d feel the need to show me up by proving you could bag three rich men. Three! I’ve barely seen you date one guy, and now, all of a sudden during the week of my wedding, you decide you’re into something like that?” she whirled around, the tears in her eyes matching my own. “It’s like high school all over again.”
My jaw dropped as I stared at her. I tried, but no words came out.
“I had friends. I was a cheerleader. I made good grades. And then my little sister starts her freshmen year and becomes the school tramp. Is there anything you won’t do for attention?”