New Beginnings

Chapter 4: Single

So you don't gotta be alone
I'll be your boyfriend
So you don't gotta be alone
Girl I'll be your boyfriend
So you don't gotta be alone
Baby I'll be your boyfriend
Be your boyfriend till the song goes off
~Ne-Yo "Single"

Today was the day of Jamel's engagement party. I didn't even bother telling Monte because I didn't want him to go. He probably would be at 'work' anyway. As I was getting ready, my phone rung. It was Lisah.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Hey, you're coming right?"

"Unfortunately, yes." I put the phone on speaker and continued to get dressed.

"Are you gonna divorce Monte?" She asked.

"Huh?" I haven't thought about it at all. All I've been thinking about is why he did it in the first place.

"Are you gonna get a divorce?"

"I don't know."

"Well call me when you get here."

"Okay, see you then."

Once I was ready, I headed out the door. I got in my car and drove to their venue, The Four Seasons.

"Are you with the Smith party?" One of the hosts asked me when I came in.

"Yes I am." And he guided me to a secluded area where all of Jamel's and his fiancé's friends and family were.

Jamel had his back toward me as I walked up behind him and tapped his shoulder. He turned around.

"Brandee!" He yelled and gave me a hug. I hugged him back and said "Hey, congratulations."

Jamel, Lisah, and I all grew up together. But Jamel and I don't see each other as much as I see Lisah.

"How are you? How is Monte?"

I faked a smile. "Good." Hoping he couldn't see right through it.

He looked me up and down. "You can tell me later." Dammit, he knew something. "We about to start in a minute, so you go sit down at your spot. There's a place card waiting for you." He said.

I went to the long table and found my seat, next to me was Lisah and some other lady I didn't know.

Jamel sat across from Lisah and Tasha,his fiancé, sat next to him. Then the lights slowly went down and out came a group of men wearing black suits. With their backs turned toward us, "Can You Stand The Rain" by New Edition came on. And they turned around one by one. But one particular face that caught my eye was the face of my neighbor. They began to lip sync the words and it was sexy.
My neighbor kept his eyes on me the entire time throughout his performance. I blushed.

Once it was over, everyone clapped and Jamel stood up and dapped them all. Then, they took their seats. The neighbor sat next to Jamel, across from me.

As waiters brought out entrees and then dessert.He kept his eyes on me as Tasha stood up and introduced her bridesmaids and her maid of honor.
Then Jamel stood up and introduced his groomsmen.

"And this man right here," he placed his hand on the neighbor's shoulder.
"is my best man, Devin."

Devin smiled slightly, like he didn't mind the attention as Jamel continued, "Now I want to let everyone know Me and Tasha's love story." He cheesed and he told everything just as if it was a perfect romance.