My Predator Cousin Made Out With Every Boyfriend at Family Weddings.

Her fiancé looked at her like she hung the moon. It was sweet and genuine and everything a wedding should be. I tried to focus on that instead of on Amber’s back three rows ahead.

After the ceremony, we moved to the reception hall for cocktail hour. People were mingling. My mother descended on us immediately.

She hugged me then extended her hand to Marcus: “Megan! And this must be Marcus.” “I’m Linda, Megan’s mother. It’s so wonderful to meet you.”

Marcus replied: “You too, Mrs. Westbrook.”

She said: “Oh, please call me Linda. How did you two meet?”

I’d prepared for this question: “Through work. Marcus was consulting on a project.”

Marcus nodded; also not technically a lie. Everything we were saying was true from a certain angle.

My mother beamed: “Well, I’m so glad Megan finally brought someone to one of these things after everything with David.”

She caught herself: “But that’s all in the past now.”

More family members came over. My dad shook Marcus’s hand and asked what he did for a living. Marcus said he worked for the county, which was true.

My aunt Patricia looked Marcus up and down approvingly. My cousin Jenna, whose wedding had been the Tyler disaster, pulled me aside. “He seems nice,” she whispered. “Way better than Tyler. Thanks. Just be careful, okay? With Amber here.”

So I wasn’t the only one who’d noticed the pattern. That was something.

We made it through cocktail hour without incident. Marcus was surprisingly good at small talk—charming without being overbearing.

He asked my relatives questions about themselves, laughed at my uncle’s terrible jokes, and complimented my grandmother’s brooch. I murmured as we walked toward our reception table: “You’re good at this.”

He asked: “At what?”

I replied: “Pretending to be my date.”

He gave me an odd look: “Who says I’m pretending?”

Face to Face

Before I could process that, Amber appeared. She materialized next to us like a shark sensing blood in the water, her boyfriend trailing behind her.

Up close, I could see the tension in her smile. She said brightly: “Megan! I didn’t know you were seeing anyone.”

I replied: “It’s recent.”

Amber’s eyes moved to Marcus: “I’m Amber, Megan’s cousin.”

He said: “Marcus.”

He didn’t offer his hand. She asked: “What do you do, Marcus?”

He replied: “I work for the county.”

She pressed: “Doing what?”

There was an edge to her voice. She knew something was off; she just couldn’t figure out what.

Marcus said smoothly: “Social services. Helping people get their lives back on track.”

Amber’s smile tightened: “That’s nice.”

Her boyfriend, a tall guy with an expensive watch, cleared his throat: “I’m Brandon.”

We all exchanged awkward pleasantries. The whole time, Amber kept staring at Marcus like she was trying to place him. I could see the wheels turning in her head.

Then the wedding coordinator called everyone to their tables. Amber and Brandon walked away, and I let out a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding.

Marcus said quietly: “She definitely recognizes me. But she can’t say anything without explaining why she knows you. This is a dangerous game you’re playing, Megan.”

I replied: “I know.”

Our table was in the middle of the room. We ended up sitting with some of Rachel’s college friends and a couple of distant cousins I barely knew.

The dinner was salmon or chicken, and the speeches were touching. Rachel’s maid of honor cried through her entire toast.

I kept glancing at Amber’s table. She was barely touching her food, and she kept whispering to Brandon, who looked confused.

After dinner, the dancing started. Marcus surprised me by actually being a decent dancer.

We swayed to some slow song I didn’t recognize, and for a moment, I forgot why we were really there. I forgot about Amber and revenge and probation officers.

I said: “Thank you for doing this.”

He replied: “You already thanked me multiple times.”

I said: “I know, but—”

Marcus looked down at me: “Megan, I’m here because I wanted to come. The donation was nice, but honestly, I would have come anyway.”

I asked: “Why?”

He was quiet for a moment: “Because what your cousin did to you is cruel, and because you seemed like you needed someone in your corner for once.”

I felt something warm bloom in my chest, something dangerous. Then I saw Amber walking toward us.

I murmured: “Incoming.”

Marcus didn’t turn around: “Let her come.”

Amber tapped my shoulder: “Mind if I cut in?”

It wasn’t really a question. Before I could answer, she’d positioned herself between me and Marcus.

She said with a sharp smile: “You don’t mind, right Megan? I just want to get to know your new boyfriend a little better.”

Marcus looked at me. I nodded slightly, then stepped back.