Page 2 of The Plus One

“Like what? A person with common fucking sense?”

“Kema.”

“What Sisi?”

“Can you calm down?”

“I am calm.”

She looked at the wine glass I was clutching in my hands that cracked when I put it down. Okay maybe calm was generous. I wasn’t calm but how could I be.

I wasn’t hurt. That was the part I needed everybody to understand. Markel could marry Tiana tomorrow and have six little cheating-ass, bald headed ass, ugly ass babies with her for all I cared. I didn’t want that man back. There wasn’t some secret part of me waiting around hoping he would wake up one morning and realize he’d made the biggest mistake of his life.

Fumbling me was a mistake. That was obvious to anybody with a brain. But that was his problem. My problem was I had spent months putting myself back together after he embarrassed the hell out of me, and now I was expected to stand at an altar across from him while the woman he’d cheated with sat in the audience.

Oh let’s not forget I had to smile. And walk down the aisle beside him. And pretend I didn’t wanna kill this nigga. For an entire fucking week. “Why does she even have to come?” I asked.

Sierra gave me a look.

“What?”

“You know I can’t tell Stephen who Markel can bring.”

“You can absolutely tell your future husband that you don’t want homewreckers at your wedding.”

“Kema!”

“What? It’s your special day. Protect the energy.”

She tried not to chuckle. “Don’t laugh.” I chuckled. “I’m dead ass.”

She tried to control her giggles before getting serious. “Okay, okay. I’m done laughing.”

Her shoulders started shaking. “See? This is why I don’t like your ass.”

Sierra burst out in a fit of giggles, and against my better judgment, I did too. This shit still wasn’t funny. But at least we could laugh.

I took another sip of wine and stared at her. “And why the hell does Markel have to be the best man anyway?”

“Because he and Stephen have been best friends since high school.”

“And? Steph ain’t got no brother or hell even a gay sister to be his best man?”

She chuckled again, “bitch you play too fucking much. You know damn well he’s an only child. And Kel is his best friend.”

“So?”

“So what do you want Stephen to do, Kema? Kick him out of the wedding because y’all broke up?”

I narrowed my eyes. “You know damn well that’s not what I’m saying.”

“Then what are you saying?”

“I don’t know!” I threw my free hand up. “I’m saying this shit is weird. Everybody knows what happened. You know. Stephen knows. Hell, half the damn wedding party knows. And now we’re all supposed to spend seven days together pretending it isn’t going to be awkward?”

“I never said it wouldn’t be awkward.”

“Wonderful. Can’t wait.”