Page 96 of Before I Say I Don't
My gaze snapped up. “Pregnant?”
Kendall’s throat bobbed. “I—uh—I overheard her saying it earlier,” she stammered, too quickly.
Danica coughed into her fist, somehow fitting the wordbullshitinside the sound.
Jayla’s lashes fluttered. Her eyes blinked open, late to the scene. “What… what happened?”
“You fainted,” I informed, thumb still at her pulse. “Probably low blood sugar.”
“Damn. For real?” She sat up with both Danica and I help, disoriented, then smoothing her hair like she’d just been caught slacking at work.
“Let’s give her air,” Danica announced, sweeping bodies back with two graceful flicks of her arms. “Diane,” she added, “Water… not cold… small sips.”
Jayla took the glass like a prop, nodded at the room like an understudy nailing composure.
I stood, dusted my knees, and felt the new fault line settle under my feet.
My phone buzzed in my palm.
Roman: I’m about to head out. But I’ll be in the car. Staying behind to see you one last time before you become Mrs. Grant tomorrow.
Me: Not funny. Lol.
Roman: Nah, but I do want to see you. Take your time.
The knot in my chest loosened, and I strolled toward Danica.
“Pregnant, though?” Danica murmured, saying exactly what I was about to as soon as I reached her.
“That part!” I shook my head in disbelief. “I guess that explains her throwing up that day… and her distance lately. This day is just full of surprises. Oh, I didn’t tell you that I also just found out Zaria is Angelo’sex!”
Dancia’s mouth fell agape. “Whaaaaaaaaaat?!” she screeched, nearly dropping her cup. “Sis, get the hell outta here! How did you find out?!”
“Roman told me earlier. You know this is his first time seeing the entire wedding party.”
Danica scoffed. “Sis, this day isn’t full of surprises; shit is getting crazierbythe day!”
“Right! Day by day, I’m finding out more shit. Like, why the hell would you have one of your exes standing in our wedding? I don’t give a damn how cool y’all are supposed to be! And then her ass just rolling along like everything’s fine!” My voicesharpened, teeth gritted. “Bitch, not only have you stood next to me knowing you and my fiancé had history, but you been smiling in my face like I’m dumb?! It’s the secretsandthe fuckin’ disrespect for me!”
I was livid.
Danica’s mouth curled, but it wasn’t a smile. “Sis… secrets don’t pop up like weeds unless somebody’s been planting. And trust, Angelo’s got awholedamn garden he never invited you to.” She tilted her head, eyes narrowing. “Every time you think you got the full picture, another little crack shows. That’s not love, that’s Jenga. And you know how Jenga ends—tower’s coming down.”
Her gaze flicked toward Jayla across the room, now sipping water like nothing had happened.
“And as for Little Miss Fainting Spell? She better hope she don’t trip tomorrow, because I’m not catching her ass.”
I burst out laughing, clutching my stomach. Danica always knew how to cut the tension with one-liners that sounded like they were pulled straight from a comedy set.
Me and Danica drifted toward our grandparents—the ones from our daddy’s side who had flown down for the wedding. It still felt surreal seeing them there, smiling, hugging, acting like family when it had taken years to even get to that point. As they asked us questions, their eyes carried that mixture of pride and regret—the pride of seeing their son’s daughters grow into strong women, and the regret of knowing he wasn’t there to witness it himself.
“I’m going to the bathroom,” I announced minutes later to Danica. “Be right back.”
“Text me a peach if you need me to yank a fire alarm.”
I chuckled, then slipped down the corridor toward the restrooms. Right before I made it the door, voices leaked through the seam—two… hushed… andfamiliar.
“I didn’t mean to blurt it,” Kendall was saying. “I panicked!”
