Page 78 of False Start

My feet start walking of their own accord, leading me right to Cory. I can't take my eyes off him. Once I reach the group, Tiffany and Maya turn toward me with knowing expressions.Did they set this up?

"Look who we found in the back row, trying not to be seen," Tiffany says with a smug smirk. If her meddling hadn't brought the man I love to me, I'd want to wipe it right off her face.

Sensing the live wire of energy sparking between Cory and me, Noah claps his hands. He has to elbow Damon, who's still in a daze.

"C'mon, folks," he announces. "Lets all grab another drink for the road."

The group heads to the bar that'll likely be closed soon. Kendra gets stopped for an autograph. I feel Maya and Tiffany pat my shoulder.

But all I see is Cory. And suddenly, we're alone.

Chapter thirty-three

Cory

IoweNoahanicebottle of whiskey for clearing out the riffraff. Denise and I need to talk and there's no way I could do it with my knucklehead brothers around. Even now, with her standing in front of me like a goddess of seduction in form-fitting jeans and a red shirt with a plunging neckline, worrying her lip between her teeth, I still wonder if I have the nerve.

What if Tiffany and Maya got it wrong, and she's doing just fine without me? What do I have to offer her now that I'm unemployed and living off my savings? What if she's pissed I ambushed her on her big day? Should I have brought flowers on the off chance we'd bump into one another?

I run countless simulations in my head.Fuck!This isn't some stock or future where I can research and run the numbers. It'smessy. But isn't that part of what makes it beautiful?

"I'm sorry," she whispers, stepping closer. Almost close enough to touch. "I was wrong to push you away."

I pull her into me because I can'tnottouch her. Not anymore. It's been torture. She doesn't resist, and the vice that's been gripping my heart for months eases. I press my forehead against hers.

"I know why you did it," I answer. She laughs softly.

"You do? Well, that's funny, becauseIdidn't even know until you'd been gone for weeks and Dr. Jamison forced me to take a long, hard look in the mirror."

"Dr. Jamison?" I ask.

"My shrink. I started seeing her a few years after Andre…" She trails off. "She's pretty great, actually. I know I drive her crazy, blaming everyoneand everythingbut myself for my problems."

I shake my head. Our foreheads are still touching, and a few of her braids fall into my face.

"You aren't to blame. Your parents—"

"Are real pieces of shit," she interrupts. "I know. But what they did to me didn't give me the right to take it out on everyone else in my life. I mean, you wereright therethe whole time. All I could see was you leaving me. It seemed inevitable. I'd fuck everything up eventually and then you'd leave."

I grab her by the shoulders, pulling her flush against me.

"Youwillfuck up, D," I say. She tries to pull away, but I tighten my hold. "You'll fuck up and so will I. I didn't ask you to be with me because I thought you'd never make mistakes. That you'd be on your best behavior, roleplaying some rom-com you saw with your girlfriends. You only think that because of what your parents did, pretending to live in that damn wedding portrait until things got too hard."

A quiet sob leaves her, and I can feel the dampness where she's leaning against my chest.

"In reality, relationships aren't perfect. They're just a commitment to love each other through the good daysand the bad. I'm certainly no expert, but Ihaveseen my parents together for decades. They foughtplentyover the years. They even almost got divorced when my dad tried to force Noah into law school."

"Mama and Papa Park almost got divorced?" she gasps. I can't help but chuckle.

"Mom would definitely love that you call her that. And yes. They almost divorced. They even sat us all down to break the news and talk about the logistics of Dad moving out. In the end, after marriage counseling and several nights of deep conversation, they called it off. They chose their life together and compromise over hurt feelings and pride. I finally feel like I understand why."

Denise looks up at me with a smirk, though her eyes are still glassy with tears.

"So being with me is just a compromise?"

I roll my eyes.

"No, silly girl. Being with you is a choice. And one I choose even when you drive me crazy. Even when you push me away. Even when you squeeze the toothpaste from the middle of the tube like a heathen. Because I l—"

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