Page 40 of Before I Say I Don’t

Chapter Twenty-Two

KAMIRA

I t was the evening before the wedding, and the entire bridal party was gathered at the venue for rehearsal.

I couldn’t stop stealing glances at Roman.

The worst part? He wasn’t even attempting to hide that he couldn’t stop looking at me either.

Each time our eyes met, the corners of his mouth would lift in a smile that ignited an electric connection between us.

It was a quiet war—stolen looks, half-smiles, and the kind of heat that made my skin hum.

Meanwhile, Danica was in full command mode, exuding an aura of authority. With her hair pulled tightly into a ponytail and a headset secured around her ear, she held a clipboard with a list of instructions that was nearly as detailed as a military operation.

“Alright, people!” she called out, her voice carrying across the room as she took center stage and snapped her fingers at a groomsman who was distractedly texting.

“Eyes up! Phones down! Posture straight!” she clapped firmly.

“We’re running this rehearsal clean and quick!

If you can’t walk in a straight line, I’ll replace you with a floral arrangement! ”

A few chuckles echoed through the group, but there were also nervous gulps as her commanding presence settled over everyone.

With a pointed pen in hand, she gestured authoritatively like a conductor leading an orchestra.

“Order of procession—listen carefully so I don’t have to repeat myself like a bad chorus,” she said, flipping her clipboard to the next page.

“Groomsmen, you will enter from stage right to the instrumental of Luther Vandross’s Here and Now .

” She lifted an eyebrow for emphasis. “Yes, instrumental. No one needs to be mouthing the words like it’s karaoke night. When the beat drops, you move—got it?”

Danica turned the page and continued.

“Grandparents will be escorted by ushers, then Dian, since you’re the only living parent of both parties, will follow to a string cover of I Found Love by Bebe and CeCe Winans.

The groom will stand with the officiant at the altar.

And Angelo—” she declared without even glancing in his direction, “no hands in pockets!” Her tone left no room for argument.

“Bridesmaids, you’ll float to Marc Nelson and Beyoncé’s After All Is Said and Done —that means slow, deliberate, shoulders back, like y’all actually practiced!

No gum! Spit it out now if you need to! If I hear one pop, I’m collecting a fine! ”

Serena discreetly tossed her gum in a napkin.

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’s Why 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 be the wedding.

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 the matron 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 to Ave 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 of Why I Love You drifted through the air like a prayer, soft and sacred. I stepped forward, every eye turning, every breath in the room syncing with my own.

Danica’s voice dropped to a murmur, pitched only for me. “Glide, baby sis. Remember, this is your moment. Make the floor jealous that it gets to hold you.”

The words unlocked something in me. I breathed deeper, stepped lighter, shoulders unfurling as if the music carried me.

And somewhere off to the side, I could feel Roman’s gaze following me like a magnet, warming my skin even through layers of fabric.

When I reached the end of the aisle, Danica wiped at her eyes in an exaggerated motion, pretending to dab an invisible tear, before snapping back into boss mode with a clap.

“Alright! Reset, people! Let’s try it again without the drama!”

Groans rolled across the room, but they all fell back into line.

Kendall and Jayla overperformed serenity. The way they linked arms with their partners looked rehearsed, and every shared glance between them screamed we’re so unbothered.

When the run-through ended, Danica lowered her headset and muttered, “Okay, that’s a wrap!

” Then she clapped twice, loud enough to snap spines straight.

“And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how you shut a rehearsal down! Tomorrow is the big day—so remember to hydrate, moisturize, and be on time! And please, for the love of God, don’t show up with ashy knuckles or hungover breath!

Now, before you escape, I want to share that as a token of appreciation from Kam and Angelo, they decided to host a rehearsal dinner. So… dinner is on them. Enjoy!”

The doors opened to the private dining room next door, and the wedding party quickly rushed inside.

The food was pure soul food: cast-iron skillets of bubbling golden macaroni, trays of steaming fried chicken, seasoned collard greens, and cornbread squares stacked like bricks of gold.

Servers also passed around deviled eggs and fried green tomatoes on trays, while champagne corks popped in the background.

Viangelo slid an arm around my waist as though to claim me and guided me toward Roman like he was presenting a trophy.

“My guy,” he grinned, pulling Roman in for a brotherly hug. “This is my beautiful fiancée, but y’all already know each other from college, so there ain’t much to introduce.”

Roman’s mouth tipped at the corner. “Not much at all.”

“Nope!” I replied, my smile a little too bright and forced.

“It’s nice to see you again, Kam,” Roman said.

“Likewise. I’m glad you could make it down for the wedding.”