Page 93 of Before I Say I Don't
Diane pursed her lips, pausing long enough to remind everyone she hated being interrupted, before pressing on.
“To my son, who has always been… spirited. And to Kamira, who will… balance him,” Diane finished, her smile stiff as the bubbles in her flute.
Danica leaned in close enough for only me to hear. “Balance? Like a checkbook you already overdrew?”
I giggled lightly and nudged her.
Jayla stood next, her smile glowing and voice pitched with best-friend pride.
“To my best friend—may tomorrow be everything you dreamed. Kamira, you’ve worked so hard for this moment, and no one deserves it more than you. I’ve watched you chase after everything with that unstoppable drive of yours, and I’m just happy to see you finally get the fairytale you’ve been waiting on. You’re proof that persistence pays off.”
The table hummed with warm murmurs of agreement; some clapping softly as she lifted her glass higher. To everyone else, Jayla looked like the picture of support. To me? She looked like a snake in high-waist jeans, toasting me with one hand while hiding betrayal in the other.
And maybe that’s what stung the most—not the betrayal itself, but how easily she wore the mask. How easily she played “best friend” in public, knowing damn well she’d already crossed the line in private.
I lifted my glass too, my smile perfectly in place. “Thank you, Jayla. And I’m sure it will be.”
Fake ass bitch.
Jayla sat down to polite applause with her glass still raised. Before the silence could stretch too long, Roman stood, slow and confident, champagne flute in hand.
“I’d like to say something too.” His voice was level, the kind that silenced chatter without demanding it. He glanced at mefirst—unhurried—then shifted to Angelo. “Me and Angelo go back… way back, actually. He’s always been the type to make noise, keep the spotlight, and… you know, find his way into a room.” Roman’s smile was civil, but brief. “That’s Angelo.”
Viangelo chuckled, nodding proudly like it was the best compliment in the world.
Roman shifted, focusing on me.
“As for Kamira, orKam… I’ve known her since college,” he began, tone softening. “And one thing I can say about her is she’s… relentless. Once she sets her mind on something, she doesn’t let go. Whether it’s her career, her friendships, or her happiness—she chases it down until it’s hers. That kind of persistence?” He smiled faintly. “That’s rare.”
I blushed, soaking in the compliment.
Roman’s gaze didn’t leave me. “And it means whoever stands beside her has to be just as relentless. Because she deserves someone who matches her stride, who doesn’t fumble when it counts, who values her time… and her trust. So here’s to Kamira, who I know will always rise. And to Angelo—may you always be able to keep up.”
The table clinked their glasses together, polite and oblivious. I raised my glass with the rest, my smile calm, but inside I was blazing.
That man.
Angelo stood, grinning widely, clapping Roman on the back like he’d just been honored.
My pulse quickened, because I heard exactly what Roman had just done. He hadn’t toasted our union; he toastedme, sliding the knife so smooth that Viangelo didn’t even know he’d been cut.
Serena and Lena side-eyed me knowingly.
Thepre-weddingtoasts moved along. Jax told a story that ran too long, Terrance laughed louder at his own jokes thananyone else did, and Viangelo kept sneaking looks at his phone, thumbs flying like he was already drafting apologies that I wasn’t hearing it.
Then Serena grabbed the mic uninvited, her voice bouncing through the room.
“If anybody got beef with the seating chart, take it up with God because Danica isnotaccepting requests!”
The room erupted in laughter. Danica curtsied dramatically.
I let my grin curl slyly as I turned toward Kendall. “Actually… Kendall, didn’t you say something about your friends wanting a closer seat?” I asked sweetly, voice carrying just enough to hush the table.
The laughter died instantly, and silence pressed in. The only sound was the faint clink of a fork against china.
Danica was the only one who knew exactly where I was going with that question.
Kendall froze for a second too long before fumbling, “Uh… yeah. But for the reception.”
