Page 45 of False Start

"You're more skittish than Clawdette, and she still won't let me pick her up."

"I can't promise I won't ever clam up. This is new territory for me, after all. But I'll try. I'll do my best to let you in. I'm hoping that's enough for us to keep seeing each other."

He pulls me against him, kissing the top of my head.

"It is."

For now, I hear him add silently. No man's willing to wait forever, no matter how crazy about the woman he is. I just hope I'm ready before he decides he's had enough.

Chapter nineteen

Cory

Deniseleansacrossthetable of refreshments to snag the last White Claw, and I grip my beer tighter. She came dressed as Storm, her braids loose and painted silver, tempting me each time they dip into the ample cleavage exposed by the leather corset of her bodysuit. Thankfully, my Goku costume leaves enough room to hide the half chub I've been sporting since she got here, but even that won't be enough to hide my response to her if she keeps leaning over like that.God, she's gorgeous.

She'ssogorgeous, in fact, that when she asked to wait until after the party to take our relationship public, I actually agreed. Apparently, Adam proposed at last year's party, and she didn't want to give people the wrong idea if we came together. I hate hiding my feelings for her, but I'm also painfully aware that one wrong move could send her running again.

Tiffany reaches past me to load her plate with cake eyeballs and crescent rolls shaped like witch hats. Dry ice in the punch bowl releases a light fog over the table.

"Mama Park, you really went all out!" Tiffany gushes around a mouth full of crescent roll.

Mom waves a dismissive hand while reloading the platter of Jack-o'-lantern empanadas.

"How many times do I have to ask you to call me Marie?" she huffs.

"Enough to drown out decades of home training," Tiffany chuckles. "And even then, I'd have to pray my mom never found out."

Because I'm still low-key staring at her, I see when Denise laughs and nudges Tiffany's elbow.

"I'm with you," she whispers. "As far as I'm concerned, Mama Park's first name is 'Mrs.'."

Mom rolls her eyes at them good-naturedly, then makes her way through the crowd back to the kitchen. I don't know why she bothers. No one with any sense would call their elder by their first name unless they want a pop to the mouth. That my strong, feisty, take-no-shitgirlfriendis so respectful towards my mom is another major turn-on.Mmm. Girlfriend. She might not want to use the label, but that won't stop me from using it in my head.

I turn to scan the room before she catches me smiling at her.

"Don't tell me she's going to get more food?!" Tiffany exclaims. "She must've made every single thing on the Good Housekeeping website!"

Adam walks up arm in arm with Maya. They're dressed as Shang Chi and Shuri from Marvel.Did I miss the memo about wearing a comic book-themed costume?

"Taste of Home, actually," Adam says. "Plus a few recipes from The Pioneer Woman. She's been planning the menu for the last two weeks."

He kisses Maya on the cheek and pops a mummy in a blanket into his mouth.

"And she wouldn't even let me help," Maya pouts, though I saw her slip a tray of pumpkin cookies onto the refreshment table when she first arrived.

Maya can throw down in the kitchen, especially her baked goods. She's brought more than a few treats along since she started coming to our weekly family dinner. My favorite so far was the red velvet cake. I must've had three slices. If I ever decide to follow my baby brother down the aisle, Maya might have to make the wedding cake.

You're getting way ahead of yourself, don't you think, buddy? Especially since your girl doesn't even want to be seen with you in public? Hell, she barely wants to admit she's your girl.

I chug the rest of my now warm beer and start towards the patio for some air when Henry and Camila—The Crow and Wednesday Addams—burst through the front door. Both have on pale makeup that is noticeably smudged around the mouth and sway slightly, like this might not be their first party of the night.

"Guess who passed the bar!" Henry shouts, lifting Camila's hand and shaking it like she's a prizefighter. The party erupts in cheers and people make their way over to congratulate the woman of the hour, whose face has gone redder than the fake blood on the cupcakes.

"Congratulations, young lady," Dad says with a raise of his glass. "Bannister, Banks, Smith & Park will be lucky to have you."

"Thank you, Mr. Park, but actually," Camila continues with a sly smile, "I'll be practicing law with a different Park brother in the new year."

Henry's grin matches Camila's and Dad looks between his sons, confused. Henry is the only one of us who followed Dad into law, despite how much he pressured Noah to do the same.

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