Page 36 of Pride & Precedents

"Womp womp," Cory mocks, throwing a small piece of his cornbread at Adam. Adam picks it up and eats it smugly.

"That's enough!" Dad roars, looking angrier than when he caught all of us out past curfew covered in glitter from the gentlemen's club. Everyone, even Maya, goes silent.

"Did I raise the kind of boys who would reduce a woman to a trivial bet?"

"No, sir," Noah and Cory answer, too ashamed to make eye contact.

"And you!" Dad points at me with his fork. "Didn't your mother and I make it clear that getting involved with your employee was a terrible idea?"

Mom interrupts before I can answer.

"Now Henry," Mom chides gently, "let's not assume the worst. Sure, some people take advantage of their positions of power, but do you really think Henry, Jr. would?"

Dad grumbles quietly but says nothing.

"And," Mom continues, "don't we know quite a few lawyers who have gotten involved with either their paralegals, or assistants, or other lawyers in the firm?" Mom's getting the mother of all Mother's Day gifts this year—pun intended. "John and Deborah just gotmarriedlast year."

She wiggles her eyebrows at me, and I almost choke on my wine.

"Thank you, Mom," I cut in, "though we're a long way off from wedding bells. For now, we're just seeing where things go."

Mom frowns, and I know I've lost her support.

"'Seeing where things go'? Henry, Jr., I would've assumed you were serious about this woman if she was enough to make you cross the line."

I shift uncomfortably in my seat and Cory's face splits in a shit-eating grin.

"Uh oh. Sounds like the golden boy is finally in trouble."

Dad gives Cory a look that wipes that smile right off his face and Maya's lip quirks. I think there might be some bad blood between those two.

"Anyway," Adam says in a tone meant to change the subject, "it's T-minus 90 days until Maya and I tie the knot."

Noah is smiling again.

"I can'twaitfor the bachelor party, bro," Noah says, smiling like the Cheshire cat. "You will not regret making me your Head Best Man."

Adam rolls his eyes good-naturedly.

"Head Best Man, huh?" With four brothers, Adam decided against a best man to avoid any hurt feelings, but that hasn't stopped Noah from declaring himself king of the groomsmen. Considering how slammed things are at work, I'm happy to let him take the lead.

"You're damn—" Noah stops with Mom's warning look. "I meandarnright! There's going to be dancing, drinks, and, of course, loads of ladies."

Maya's expression turns unreadable and Adam puts his arm around her.

"Don't worry, baby. I won't let these knuckleheads get me into anything too crazy. I've already got the best girl at home."

Maya's shoulders relax, and she gives Adam a sweet kiss on the cheek.

"I trust you, babe. Besides," her smile turns wicked, "your bachelor party won't be half as wild as what Denise and Tiffany have planned for my bachelorette."

Something sounding suspiciously like a snort comes from Mom's side of the table.

"We're going somewhere called…" Maya taps her chin, thinking. "Hunk-O-Mania, I think? Tiffany got us seats right up front and Denise said she's bringing at least $500 in ones."

Next to me, Adam looks almost green, and Maya finally breaks into a fit of giggles.

"I'm just kidding, baby," she teases. She shakes him gently on the shoulders until he cracks a rueful grin. "You know strippers aren't my style. We're actually spending the day at the spa and then the girls have arranged a group baking class."

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