Page 43 of Before I Say I Don’t

“ That’s the thing about playing with fire, Jayla—you don’t get to pick whether it warms you or burns you . Y’all called it casual, but life doesn’t care about casual. Babies don’t ask for permission; they just come. And now? You gotta deal with the fallout.”

“If Kam finds out, I don’t know what will happen.”

Kendall didn’t hesitate. Her tone was flat and laced with brutal honesty.

“It’s not if she finds out, it’s when. The girl is a lawyer— brilliant at that.

She doesn’t just argue cases, but she also studies people, reads patterns, holes in stories, and the pauses between words.

You can’t out-lie somebody who’s made a career out of catching lies.

Kam’s like a bloodhound when something smells off—she’ll circle it until she finds the body.

Oh, and the minute she catches wind of all of this, you won’t just lose Angelo…

you’ll lose whatever fake friendship you were pretending to have, too. ”

Kendall let out a humorless laugh. “So you can pray, cry, lie, or even stall… but the truth is already pacing outside the door. And when Kam opens it, don’t expect her to be polite about what she drags out.” She let the silence hang, then added one last sting. “You wanted fun… now you got forever.”

Now I’ll admit, Kendall wasn’t one of my favorite people, but in that moment… I had to respect the way she laid it out. She didn’t sugarcoat or twist anything into pretty words. She said the kind of truth that slices people open, whether they’re ready for it or not.

When the faucet cut off, I peeled myself off the wall, straightened my shoulders, and walked back the way I came.

So let me get this right. My fiancé is a liar and a cheater.

He’s got a baby by his sister’s friend, possibly one on the way by my best friend.

And as if that ain’t foul enough, he had the audacity to invite his ex to stand beside me in my own damn wedding.

Kendall and Jayla secretly hate me. Jayla not only slept with my man, but got pregnant by him, and now it’s looking like she’s about to be a single mom.

And through all that, they still gon’ show up tomorrow in tuxes and satin, smiling like we’re one big happy family? Like we’re sisters?

Cool.

I found Danica seated, checking off vendors on her list like it calmed her blood pressure.

“All these bitches got me fucked up!” I bellowed low, the fury clean and cold in my voice.

Her head snapped up. “What happened?!” she asked in the same tone she used when her favorite pen went missing.

“I’ll tell you in a minute.”

I hightailed over to Viangelo, bent lightly, lips at his ear, and whispered, “We need to wrap things up—it’s getting late.”

Him being the self-proclaimed party animal, I expected pushback, but to my surprise, he nodded almost too quickly, like even he felt the night slipping sideways.

I straightened my posture, then turned to the crowd, smile snapping back into place like I hadn’t just been simmering inside.

I clinked my glass gently. “Can I get everyone’s attention, please?”

The room hushed, faces turning toward me with polite expectancy.

“Viangelo and I would like to not only thank you all for coming out tonight, but for being part of our wedding. It means so much to us. I hope you all enjoyed the meal, the laughs, and the company. We’re grateful for every single one of you being here to celebrate with us.

Seriously—get some rest, be on time tomorrow, and drive safe going home.

We want our day to be beautiful, but it won’t happen without y’all showing up and showing out. ”

I let my gaze sweep the room, lingering just long enough on a few faces before I added, voice sweet but edged, “Tomorrow’s about love, respect, and truth … and I know everyone here will rise to the occasion.”

Danica’s brow arched ever so slightly. The room nodded, oblivious.

“Danica will send the final call sheet in an hour,” I finished, smile never faltering.

“ Fifteen minutes,” Danica corrected with a smile.

The room believed her.

Chairs scraped and people drifted toward the exit in clumps of whispering.

I joined Danica again, pulled her to the side, and told her everything. Each sentence tightened her jaw another notch.

“So what we about to do?” I asked, my earrings already in my fingers before I realized I’d reached for them.

Initially, I was okay with just hearing it from Jayla and Kendall but saying it out loud made me realize just how everybody had really been playing in my face.

Danica chuckled. “Oh, you’re mad-mad. But no, ma’am. Now, any other time? I’d say take ‘em off, pull your hair back, and let security earn their check… not tonight, sis.”

She covered my hands with hers, folding the jewelry back into my palm.

“Save it for tomorrow. Let them all dress up. Let them smile. Let them show up thinking they got away with it. But tomorrow, in front of God, family, and everybody—including the DJ and whoever’s refilling the sweet tea—give them a show.

They wanted a fairytale? Tomorrow, they’re getting a plot twist.”

“Damn right.”

“ Besides, none of them are worth it… and Jayla’s pregnant,” Danica reminded me.

“I don’t care if she’s carrying twins named Consequence and Karma, with a godparent named Payback, and the baby shower sponsored by Bad Decisions,” I said heartless.

Danica chuckled. “Sis, you can’t be going to jail. Who’s gonna pay for brunch and keep my wine fridge stocked if you’re locked up?”

I laughed in spite of the situation because that was Danica all day—selfish-funny, flipping sharp truths into humor that kept me from drowning.

“But she was my best friend?—”

“She’s not ,” Danica interjected, soft voice, sharp words. “Say it. She’s not .”

“She’s not,” I grumbled.

Danica’s thumb rubbed the back of my hand once, grounding. “Breathe. One more day.”

“One more day,” I exhaled.

“And if you need to let off a little steam,” she added, her mouth twitching at a memory only she and I shared, “you know exactly how. Also, the bride and groom aren’t supposed to see each other tonight… and you’re supposed to be staying with me.”

“Trueeeee…” I drawled, the wheels turning inside my head.

“So…”

“You’re terrible.” I chuckled.

“I’m effective,” she quipped. “So call up Roman and do you.”

“He’s actually in the car waiting to see me. He never left.”

I glanced at the exit like I could see straight through the wall into the parking lot.

“Of course he is,” Danica said, satisfied, then tucked a curl back behind my ear exactly the way our mother used to. Then, included, “Go. Your ride’s waiting. I’ll wrap up here and make sure the DJ packs his ego with his cables.”

“Thank you, sis. What would I do without you?”

Danica smirked. “Probably be in jail on a reality show called Bridezillas: Felony Edition. ”

We both laughed, then she squeezed my fingers. “Tomorrow, we cut the head off the lie. Tonight, you get your mind right.”

I nodded then placed the earrings back in because pageantry mattered until it didn’t. Afterward, I headed toward the doors, texting Roman.

Me: On the way.

I slid into the passenger seat, shut the door, and just sat there for a minute, hands still flat on my thighs, letting the weight of the night burn off me.

Roman glanced over, reading my face like it was written for him alone.

“You good, baby?” he asked, low and slow, placing his hand on the back of my neck.

“No, I’m not good,” I admitted, then turned in my seat, faced him fully, eyes locked on his. “And I’m not going to Danica’s tonight.”

His brow arched. “No? So where do you plan on staying?”

“I’m staying with you,” I simply stated.

“And when we get there, you’re gonna fuck me like you’ve never fucked anyone else in your life.

I mean ruin-my-voice, shake-my-soul, break-your-bed frame.

I want to feel you tomorrow when I’m walking down that aisle in front of everybody. I want them to see it on me.”

His chuckle was deep.

Roman reached over, gripped my jaw and brushed his thumb across my lip.

“Kam, the way you talk when you’re mad makes my dick harder than when you moan. You sure you’re ready for what you just asked for? I told you I don’t do half-ass. I’ll fuck you so good you’ll be looking at that wedding crowd tomorrow, wondering why you even showed up .”

“Then do it,” I challenged, not breaking eye contact.

Roman smirked, then started the engine. “Buckle up, Mrs. Almost-Mine . Tonight, I’m putting an expiration date on that almost .”