Shout-Outs: BoldBraveBubbly16, ranggy, Karkoolka and Lynn

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Rated: T

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Chapter 7

"Josh, we need to talk!"

"Cory. . ." Josh said wearily.

"It's important," Cory told him, smiling at Maya. "Hey! Welcome home! Did you enjoy your trip?"

"Very much so," Maya answered. "We were in Nantucket today, seeing how opening the house for the summer was going."

"I know," Cory replied, not taking his eyes off his younger brother. "Was that nice?"

"It was really nice," Josh said, turning to look at Maya. "I'll talk to you later. Okay?"

Maya nodded. "I'm just going to go and get some sleep. I'm still pretty jet-lagged. Thanks for today. See you around Cory."

"See you later Maya," Cory answered.

When she was gone, Cory smacked Josh on the forehead.

"Ouch! What was that for!?" Josh asked, rubbing it gingerly.

"What are you doing!?" Cory demanded.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Josh replied.

"You're seeing Maya Hart as part of a business deal," Cory clarified for him. "Dad told me everything."

"It has to be done."

Cory sighed. "You are so good at doing things that have to be done. Have you ever stopped to think about what you want?"

"I want to do exactly what I'm doing," Josh said. "I'm good at what I do. I've never been good at anything else. I'm not like Lucas, I cannot charm my way through life and girls certainly don't find me as appealing as they find him. And I can't just leave dad in the lurch, not since you and Eric denounced wealth for a simpler, quieter way of life."

"Somebody's going to get hurt," Cory informed him. "And it might not be Maya."

Josh shook his head. "I know I've never stood a chance. . ."

Cory's face lit up. "This isn't all about the business merger! Is it? I should have seen it this whole time. How could I be so blind!?"

"It's all about the business merger!" Josh retorted. "You don't know anything Cory."

"But you just said that you've always known you don't stand a chance. One would think you're talking about Maya. It's no secret she's been hung up on Lucas for years, what we didn't know was that you have been harboring a crush on her this whole time."

"Shhh!" Josh said, gesturing with him at his hands. "I would prefer to keep it that way, thank you very much."

"Why? You should tell her! You have just as much as Lucas going for you, if not a little more. You're more constant."

"A glowing review. Every girl wants a boy who's steady," Josh answered.

"Oh come on, you're more than constant. You're just as good looking as Lucas, everyone can see it. But that's all beside the point! You need to get out while you're ahead. Who cares about the merger with the Friars?"

"But what if Lucas decides to break things off with Riley?" Josh asked. "And then he runs away with Maya but he winds up hurting her in the long run? He'll leave not one but two girls with broken hearts in his wake. Besides, he doesn't even really know Maya."

"And you do?"

"I never said that.

"I know you do," Cory said. "I see all and forget nothing."

"We've always been friends," Josh answered.

"Well then, be her friend Josh. Don't do something you're going to regret."

"Don't you know? I've always been destined to lose her. No matter what happens. No matter what I do," Josh replied.

"You should just talk to her," Cory answered. "Tell her how you feel. Maybe honesty will be your saving grace for the business merger, for your relationship with Maya. For everything. You never know what could happen if you just tell the truth."

Josh looked at his brother and sighed. "Everything's still going to work in his favor."

"Well. Not everything," Cory said, smirking. "You're still the one with all the power. You have the education, the degree, the good job. You're set to inherit dad's company one day. And you have the advantage of loving Maya. Lucas, Lucas loves Riley and he knows it. That's why he's doing this, he really has to commit this time."

"Sure," Josh answered. "It has nothing to do with how gorgeous Maya grew up."

"She did grow up gorgeous," Cory agreed. "But trust me. It has nothing to do with that and everything with Lucas's fear of commitment. You'll see. Granted, I don't think Lucas knows it yet. He probably does think she's beautiful and he's ignoring the common sense we both know he possesses."

"So, what are we going to do?" Josh asked. "Call Riley and have her come back from her medical conference early?"

"I didn't think of that!" Cory replied, looking like he was considering it. He shook his head. "No, we couldn't do that! Lucas is still on heavy medication because he hates pain, he's sleeping 24/7. It would be pointless to have her come home right now. You could always tell the truth."

"You already said that and it sounds less appealing now than it did a few minutes ago."

"This is the first dishonest business dealing you're ever going to make," Cory reminded him. "How do you feel about that? And don't say it's just one, if you make an exception this time then it's going to be okay to do it again. Do me a favor and think about that, Josh. If you do and can live with the possibility of compromising your standards again then I won't stand in your way."

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Maya watched Josh from her bedroom window. He looked more distressed than she had ever seen him and this worried her. He was always confident, always sure about everything. She couldn't help but wonder what was bothering him, she wanted to go back to him and ask him about it. To see if everything was okay or if she was imagining things.

But something held her back. She let the drapes fall into place and went to get ready for bed.

TBC. . .

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Author's Note:

I am sorry updates are going so slowly. I really know where I'm going with it and I am serious about finishing writing "Maya". I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I am really trying not to stray too far from the original story because it would be so easy to have Josh and Cory bring Riley back.

I hope you'll come back for more.

If you have time, go and check out my newest story "the Convenient Boyfriend". The fake relationship troupe, you gotta love it! Also, my tag for "Girl Meets Triangle" has been posted too. If you're into scenes that I personally think would have fit the episode.

Until Next Time!

Lots Of Love,

Holly, 6/29/2016