A Forever Wedding, Destroyed by One Toast

At the wedding rehearsal, my fiancée’s so-called male best friend. Daniel Song, swaggered forward with a raised glass.

“To the bride!” His grin was wicked. “Baby, once you’re married, don’t come knocking on my door for late-night company anymore, alright?”

The bridesmaids burst out laughing. He slung an arm around Vanessa Summers, my soon to be bride, leaning in as if to kiss her.

My jaw tightened.

Catching my expression, he turned toward me, smirking, “And Adrian! Poor guy looks like he’s useless in bed. Better learn how to keep our Vanessa satisfied.”

Vanessa looped her arms around his neck, covering his mouth with a playful scold.

“You filthy old man, don’t talk nonsense!”

But he still planted a kiss on her cheek before grinning at me.

“Relax, Adrian. Vanessa and I grew up together. Surely, you’re not jealous?”

——

I forced a smile. “Why would I be? After all, you’re just… friend.”

Gasps rippled through the room.

Vanessa snuggled against my arm, eyes bright. “Adrian, you’re so generous! I thought you’d be the jealous type.”

Song Daniel laughed. “Exactly! All her exes were so petty. They couldn’t handle me, so we made sure they dumped her.”

He gave her a sharp slap on the butt.

“Remember that old saying? Brothers are like limbs; women are like clothes! Vanessa, would you rather lose an arm, or strip naked? Ha! Don’t forget, I’ve still got those baby photos of you!”

Vanessa swatted him away, giggling. “Stop touching me! My husband’s right here!”

“Funny,” Daniel shot back, “you weren’t complaining when you were groping my abs before. You even traced circles with your hands—and I had a girlfriend then!”

He turned deliberately toward me. “So, Adrian… can you keep her satisfied?”

That was enough. I seized his arm, my voice low and sharp.

“Tell me… are you planning to repeat this tomorrow, at the real ceremony?”

For once, he froze.

Yes. Today was only rehearsal. Tradition required both bride and groom to have a representative give a toast. Everything had been fine, until he opened his mouth.

“What, you don’t want me to?” His lips curled. He slammed his glass onto the table with a loud crack, silencing the hall.

“Vanessa, your husband can’t take a joke? Everything I said was true!”

Vanessa looked between us, then quickly took my hand and smiled at him, sugar-sweet.

“Daniel, you’re my best friend. Adrian’s just too strait-laced, don’t mind him.”

Daniel’s face darkened. He stomped the floor. “After all these years, you’re siding with him? You haven’t even married him yet!”

Vanessa shoved me toward him. “Adrian, apologize. Once he changes the toast, this will all be over.”

Her bridesmaids chimed in one after another.

“Yeah, apologize to our bestie. Only if you please her can you marry Vanessa!”

“Exactly! Everyone knows Vanessa listens to Daniel the most. If you want to join our circle, you’d better win over us girlfriends first!”

Daniel smirked, pretending to swat at them playfully.