Page 28 of False Start

Cory

"We'resohappyyoucould join us, Camila! We've heard so much about you over the years, I honestly can't believe this is our first time meeting!"

Mom gushes over Henry's long-time paralegal turned brand new girlfriend, and I catch a look pass between my oldest and youngest brothers. Henry may have needed years to take their relationship to the next level, but I'd bet my annual bonus he's already looking at rings.When my brothers give up the Bachelor Pact, they really go big!She seems nice enough, though it's starting to get a little crowded around here. Between Mom, Dad, the five of us, Maya, and now Camila, we're going to need a bigger dining table for family dinner.

Mom's arms are still wrapped around Camila's shoulders when she tries to take her seat, prompting Dad to clear his throat. Mom looks sheepish, and I stifle a laugh.

"I still have about a month before I get the results from the bar exam," Camila explains, settling next to Henry. "If Henry didn't let me stress-cook in his kitchen every other day, I'd have lost my mind by now."

The biggest smile I've ever seen spreads across Henry's face as he nudges her playfully.Playfully!Never in my life have I used that word to describe my stick-in-the-mud brother.

"I told her she should save herself the commute and just move in with me," Henry begins, but Camila claps her hand over his mouth.

"And I toldhimI'm not ready to leave New York for life in the suburbs, even if his houseisthe stuff dreams are made of."

From the rueful smile on Henry's face when Camila removes her hand, I'm guessing this isn't the first time she's turned down his offer to move in. He'll wear her down, eventually. He's nothing if not patient.

Next to Dad, I can feel Mom practically vibrating with excitement that another one of her sons is in a serious relationship. It's still hard to believe some of the most notorious bachelors I know—myself included—are now happily locked down to one woman. At least it keeps Mom off my case. If I ever settle down, it'll be as a well-off silver fox with a certified dime piece, like George Clooney.

"If everything Henry has said about you is true, I'm sure it'll be good news in October," Dad says, smiling warmly at Camila before turning to Adam and Maya. "Speaking of moving in together, have you two started looking for apartments? Or maybe a house like Junior here?"

Maya finishes a bite of Mom's legendary lasagna before answering.

"First," Maya addresses Mom, "you have to give me this lasagna recipe, Mrs. Park! It's amazing!" Mom blushes.

"Second," Maya says, turning to Dad, "Adam and I have looked at a few places, but we're holding out for somewhere with enough bedrooms for Adam to have a home office and for me to have a dedicated crafting space. I amsoover screen printing in my living room."

Maya releases a dramatic sigh to illustrate her weariness, and Adam chuckles.

"The issue isn't the bedrooms. The issue is finding a place with enough closet space for all her yarn and embroidery thread," he teases, earning him a mock glare from Maya before she cracks a grin.

They may have rushed to get married, but there's no denying Adam and Maya love each other. I hide my sigh, thinking about the horrible things I said about her when she first came for family dinner. I said she wasn't fit to be on Adam's arm. That his boss and friends would talk, wondering how a prize bachelor ended up settling for a woman that looked like her. Just the thought makes the lasagna turn to ash in my mouth.

Maya is objectively beautiful, with rich brown eyes and chestnut skin framed by lustrous locs that go all the way down her back. She's a bit past thick, but she carries it well, and, beyond looks, she's smart, kind, and a successful small business owner. Mom and Dad loved her from the start.

I wish I could tell her that those weren't my words, weren't even my thoughts. That I was just parroting something Robert said when he found out I was dating Bethany.

What will people think?, he'd asked after calling me into his office.Our clients are sophisticated, elite, used to the best of the best. What will it say about Banks Ripley if you show up to a client event with a woman on your arm that looks like the help?

Bethany was what I would callpleasantly plump. As a breast man, she wasn't the first larger woman who'd caught my eye over the years. Ever since Tameka Thomas from Math club let me feel up her 38Ds, I was hooked. I had my first wet dream that very night.

Bethany didn't look like Tameka, though. She looked more like an even thicker Betty Boop: thighs like a Clydesdale, lush ass, prominent boobs, and cute chipmunk cheeks. She played up the look, wearing her curly hair short and dressing like a pinup.

When she came by my desk with the invitation to the firm's Fourth of July party, I was immediately smitten. I nearly begged to take her out to dinner, but she insisted on just coffee because guys on the trading floor had a reputation. Awell-earnedone.

Coffee on Wednesday led to lunch the following Tuesday. Lunch on Tuesday led to drinks the next week. And finally, after a chaste kiss on the lips at O'Malley's Irish Pub and whispered good nights, she agreed to go out to dinner with me. One dinner turned into three over the next few weeks, and my attraction to her grew from purely physical to…emotional. Ilikedthis woman. And I hadn't even really touched her.

I never told my brothers about Bethany. As usual, they were busy with their own lives, and I was afraid to be the first to break the Bachelor Pact. Little did I know, Adam was breaking it with Maya at almost exactly the same time.

My jaws clench at the rest of the memory. Things were progressing nicely, that is until someone from work spotted us at a Thai restaurant near the office. We weren't hiding; we were just taking things slowly while we figured out what we were. It was a first for me, as I tend to lead with sex, but the more time I spent with her, the more I liked her.

The following Monday, however, I was called into Robert's office and ordered to end things. It wasn't against policy—we're in two different departments in two differentbuildings—but it didn't reflect well on the firm. According to my asshole boss, people would talk, andanyone who wanted to stay on the trading floor would do whatever necessary to present the best face possible for Banks Ripley. His threat was clear.

I should've said no. Said "fuck you" for thinking you can butt into my personal life. I regret not just walking out every day. But I had just lost an account the month prior and could tell management was watching me closely to see if it was the beginning of a losing streak.

The next time I saw Bethany leaning her ample hips against my desk, I gave her the cold shoulder. I cancelled our dinner plans and didn't respond to her texts when she wanted to reschedule. A few times, she tried to catch my attention in the lobby, but I averted my gaze. I ghosted her, and after a few weeks of similar treatment, she got the hint.

"All good?" Maya asks only loud enough for me to hear. Her brows are pinched with concern; I must've been frowning. I shake my head and paste on a bland expression.

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