Page 60 of False Start

"I didn't want to blow things out of proportion if it was nothing serious. He could've ended up another Derek."

"Who's Derek?" she asks.

"You've just made my point," I respond.

Tiffany gives me a pouty look and throws a balled up cocktail napkin in my direction.

"Maya's scary ass probably would have done the same thing," she says through pursed lips. "Remember how many times she ran from Adam before he finally locked her down?"

"Like, three times."

"Was that all? It felt like more. And all because she was too scared to admit how much she liked him. She was scared he'd just drop her when she was catching feelings. Does that sound familiar?"

I sip my drink to avoid answering.

"Yeah, that's what I thought," she says, smirking. I thought I was out with myfriendtonight, not Dr. Jamison.

"You two are so alike. It's the reason you're always butting heads. Whether because of confidence issues or fear of commitment, both of y'all stay running from men you're in love with."

"I amnotin love with Cory," I protest. Tiffany looks doubtful.

"Yeah, whatever. I don't even want to be in the middle of this. We're supposed to be the Three Amigas, so y'all need to get over the bullshit and talk it out."

I can see why Tiffany's so great at running her program. I feel like I'm in the principal's office, thoroughly chastised.

"I'm sorry I hid all this from you," I mumble. I hate apologies almost as much as I hate pleated pants.Who exactly do they flatter?

"You need to tell that to Maya. And maybe fill her in on why Cory said what he said, too."

"Ididtell her," I pout. She sucks her teeth again.

"I'm sure it went over real well while you were shouting at each other," she says, her voice thick with sarcasm. "Just talk to her, D. That many years of friendship is stronger than a fight over a guy. Besties before testes," she practically sings before jumping off her stool to dance to CeCe Peniston's "Finally".

I can't help but giggle at Tiff's ridiculousness. Getting called on my shit didn't feel great, but neither does not being able to talk about all this with Maya. I may have years of practice doing things on my own, but that doesn't mean that's the right way. Alone is…well, lonely. And if I can't have Cory, at least I can have my girls.

I drain the last of my drink and join Tiffany on the dance floor.

Chapter twenty-five

Cory

"Cansomeonepleasetellme why we left Mom's apple crumble and the game to freeze our balls off out here?" Damon grumbles. He trails behind Noah and me as we walk toward Fort Greene Park.

"Because," Noah answers, "Cory could use a little 'herbal refreshment' and he's tired of Mom catching him in the back garden."

"Nah, we could've smoked back at the house. She hasn't caught me since high school. I just knew coming out here would piss Damon off."

I turn to see him giving me the finger and step right into a puddle. My Nike SB Dunk high-tops in the stained glass pattern are soaked through to the socks.Shit!There goes three hundred bucks.

It feels good to be with my brothers. Even in the bitter cold of New York in late November, walking down soggy, uneven streets instead of cozy in Mom and Dad's living room. It's corny, but their brotherhood warms me. Not that I'll ever tell them. We bust each other's balls enough as it is.

None of them know how it was supposed to be. That Thanksgiving was going to be Denise and I's coming out as a couple after way too long sneaking around. But, from the looks I caught over the roast ham with pineapple and Maya's mouthwatering buttermilk biscuits—which were better than Mom's yeast rolls, but no one's dumb enough to admit that—they know something's up. Noah's little dig about me needing "herbal refreshment" just confirmed it. I just hope none of them asks about it. I'm still way too raw.

"Is that why we're out here?" Adam asks, pulling his jacket tighter. "I thought we were walking off all that rich food."Oh, baby bro. So innocent.

All through dinner, I kept waiting for him to corner me. To ask why I messed with his wife's friend. But if she told him, his poker face has improved by leaps and bounds, because he seems clueless.

Why wouldn't she tell him?I wonder. Is she hoping this whole thing will blow over? I knowIam.

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