Page 91 of Before I Say I Don't
I smirked.
Danica raised her pen higher, her voice dipping into mock-seriousness. “Oh, and I swear, if one of you cry too loudly and messes up the timing, I will cut your mic at dinner! Don’t test me!”
Side-eyes slid across the room—some amused, some uncomfortable, but none daring to argue.
Danica’s gaze swept the room, her tone softening as her eyes found mine.
“When those doors close, we reset our breath. My beautiful sister Kamira will then enter to Major’sWhy I Love You. Sis, the tempo is gliding, not galloping. Move like you’re on water, not rushing like you’re late for your shift at Walmart.”
Laughter filled the room.
“Seriously,” Danica continued. “This is my sister’s big day, and it has to go right. She deserves a moment that feels bigger than every lie she’s ever had to carry and brighter than every tear she’s ever cried. When it’s over, it won’t just be a wedding; it’ll bethewedding. The one people talk about years from now, not because it was perfect, but because she finally got the kind of love and celebration she’s owed; the one that sets the bar, not just for everybody else… but for her.”
Danica paused, tossed me a knowing wink, then tapped her pen against her clipboard.
“So don’t y’all mess it up! I don’t care how fine you look in your tux or how snatched you think you may be in your dress—this isn’t your show! So keep the crying cute and the walk tight! Since I am thematron of honor,” she boasted, flipping her ponytail with flair, “I will walk alone, center stage, like Rihanna at the Super Bowl halftime! No background singers, no help—just vibes.”
A wave of chuckles rippled through the room.
“Now, on to pairings! And no, you cannot swap because you ‘don’t vibe’ with your person. Half of you don’t even know each other. Besides, this is a wedding, not Tinder Live. So smile, walk, and pretend you love each other for forty-five seconds. That’s all I’m asking.” Danica cleared her throat before proceeding. “Jayla, you’ll walk with the Best Man Jax. Serena, you’ll pair with Terrance. Lena with Neek. Zaria with Tone. And Kendall…” She let it hang for dramatic effect, eyes sliding to me before she landed the punchline. “…Roman.”
Roman was the finest man in the entire wedding party—yes, including the groom. He carried the kind of presence that pulled eyes without even trying. I was sure every bridesmaid secretly hoped their name would be the one paired with his.
The reactions came quick: Serena let out a fake cough that suspiciously sounded like “lucky.” Lena’s brows shot up like she was calculating the odds. Zaria rolled her eyes, muttering something about “figures.” And Jayla… well, she didn’t even hide the way she leaned forward to get a better look at him, biting her lip like she was caught window-shopping. Kendall, of course, just smiled smug, like she’d won a prize.
Roman didn’t move a muscle. Instead, he turned his head slowly toward me, his stare steady and unbothered. I forced a small, polite smile.
Danica continued, unfazed by the undercurrent sparking in the room.
“And our ring bearer and flower girl—my darling children—will go just before the doors close for the bride.”
That’s when Diane cleared her throat, her tone smooth but edged. “I was thinking perhaps I should be seated toAve Maria.It’s elegant.”
Danica flashed all her teeth in a smile that wasn’t really a smile.
“It’s also a funeral staple. We’re keeping it Black-joy contemporary tonight. But noted.” She clapped the clipboard once like a cymbal crash. “Alright! Let’s run it from the top! Positions, people!”
The ushers took their places, escorting grandparents down the aisle first. His mother followed, steady and dignified.
Danica’s eyes narrowed and lips twitched like she was biting back commentary.
“Okay, good… slow and steady. Not too slow though.”
Knowing Danica as well as I did, she was probably saying in her head, “Y’all ain’t pallbearers. Keep it moving.”
The bridesmaids followed next, and sure enough, Jayla strutted out with a stank face, her lips pursed like she smelled something sour. Danica didn’t even let her reach halfway. She cut the music with one dramatic flick of her pen.
“Jayla, please relax your face. You look like you just saw your ex with a new girl. This is love! Float, Chile!”
The bridal party cracked up, and I couldn’t help the chuckle that slipped under my breath. Jayla rolled her eyes but adjusted her expression, forcing a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
They finally reached their spots, the music fading into silence.
“Alright, this is the moment,” Danica said, her gaze turning to me. “You ready, sis?”
I nodded, hands clammy.
The opening chords ofWhy I Love Youdrifted through the air like a prayer, soft and sacred. I stepped forward, every eye turning, every breath in the room syncing with my own.
