Page 82 of Solomon’s Temple

Sapphire pointed at me. “Okay, Mrs. Know-It-All.”

I took a sip of champagne. “I pay attention.”

Toni smiled. “Oh, I know you do.” She picked up another card. “What is the groom’s favorite thing about his bride?”

I froze. For some reason, that question hit differently. I looked down at my glass. “I don’t know.”

Sapphire made a face. “Oh, please.”

“I really don’t.”

Toni flipped the card. “His answer was, her heart.”

The room filled with soft awws. I felt my cheeks heat.

I shook my head, smiling. “That man knows exactly what to say.”

“Or he meant it,” Jela said.

I looked at her.

She smiled.

Something warm settled in my chest. Maybe he did. Maybe that was the part of marriage I was still learning–that sometimes the person you loved saw things in you that you hadn’t learned to see in yourself yet.

Toni wasn’t letting me get sentimental. “Next game.”

I groaned. “Can I at least finish my champagne?”

“Nope.” She held up another card. “Finish the bride’s sentence.”

Sapphire immediately leaned forward. “Oh, this should be messy.”

Toni looked at me. “The one thing Temple will absolutely not tolerate in her marriage is . . .”

“Disrespect!” Phire shouted. The answer came easily.

“Clock it!” I jested.

“Good answer,” Lessyn said.

Toni looked at the next card. “Temple’s biggest weakness when it comes to her husband?”

I stared at her. “Toni.”

She smiled innocently. “What?”

“You know exactly what you’re doing.”

Sapphire started laughing. “Oh, she knows.”

I grabbed the nearest pillow and threw it at her. She ducked. The room erupted, and I laughed so hard my stomach hurt. They knew his dick was my answer. I wish he could strap me to his waist and carry me around with that monster embedded in my closet.

We played games until my cheeks were sore from smiling.

We guessed wedding songs, played bride trivia, and tried to guess more things about my husband, then someone suggested a toilet-paper wedding dress contest.

I should’ve known better.