“When Ava told me she’d said yes to Eric, my first thought was, ‘hell, yeah, sis, get that money.’” Laughter echoed around the venue, and Cherisse smiled sheepishly at Eric’s parents, ignoring her mother’s scandalized stare. “Joking. We’re not gold diggers, I swear! But seriously, I was so happy for them both. Yeah, money’s all well and good, but finding someone who just gets you? Loves you with all your flaws—and lemme tell you, Ava and punctuality just don’t mix, so good luck with that, Eric.”

Eric shrugged. “I put our leave time as two hours ahead of the time we actually have to be there, so I’m good.”

“Legit,” Ava said, not even a little sorry.

Cherisse chuckled. “But you two make me believe I can find that too someday.” She refused to look at Keiran, throat thick with emotion. She reached for her wine glass instead. “I couldn’t ask for a better bro-in-law, but know if you screw up, I’ll come for your romance novel collection.” Eric gasped, and the crowd lost it. Cherisse beamed as laughter erupted again. “I love you and wish you all the happiness.”

“I’ll drink to that!” Ava replied.

She considered caving and pulling Keiran aside after the speeches to talk, but common sense prevailed.

Tears flowed when Keiran revealed his gift to the bride and groom, a surprise performance from their favorite local jazz singer, Douglas Charles. Douglas was extremely sought after and not easy to pin down with his packed schedule. Backed by Akash’s band, Douglas had everyone grooving. Cherisse’s gift was a fun video she’d put together for them, with close friends and family of the couple chiming in with hilarious anecdotes about Eric and Ava.

The bouquet and garter toss came around, and Keiran still hadn’t approached her. A small part of her wondered if he’d given up so easily. She didn’t want him to, even as she held on to her hurt.

She stole glances at him as everyone got in place. Who could blame her? In that suit, Keiran was scorching. She ogled the way the suspenders hugged his chest, the fit of his pants. He’d discarded his jacket as soon as official photos were over, and he was wearing the hell out of that shirt. This was pathetic.

“Come on, ladies!” Ava waved her bouquet enticingly.

The unmarried women were herded to the middle of the room. Some rushed for a prime spot. Cherisse lagged behind. She hated this part. People took this way too seriously.

“Mummy, you for real right now?” Keiran’s voice echoed over the noisy chatter, and Cherisse snickered as she turned and found Ms. King next to her.

“They said, ‘unmarried ladies.’ You see any ring on this finger?” She waggled her hand, and everyone cracked up harder.

“Let the woman have her fun,” Maxine called from the other side of the gathered women.

Keiran rolled his eyes. Cherisse’s mother eyed her from off the side. She found herself in the middle of the gathering women, having been pushed there by her aunts. They weren’t even being subtle. Ava counted down, bouquet clutched in her hand, then let it go. It soared over all the heads and landed right at Cherisse’s feet. She stepped back. There was a scramble of limbs and some tugging as two women latched onto the bouquet, engaged in a tug of war, everyone else cheering on, rooting for their person. Michelle emerged victorious, waving the mangled bouquet in her hands. She grinned and whooped, eyes locked on Keiran, who watched the entire thing, amused. She blew him a kiss, and Cherisse tamped down the urge to bat the bouquet from her hand.