Page 111 of Under Construction

This pattern of their entwined lives leaves Dennis feeling some sort of way he can't quite put his finger on.

Love is love and he's done denying that's what he feels for Chris.

But there's something else too.

Dennis has always overthought everything. Every detail, every possibility, every outcome.

But Chris taught him to loosen his grip.

"Don't give a fuck. Keep your fucks for what's important, princess. Like me!" Chris leers, waggling his eyebrows.

Dennis elbows him with a groan at the terrible joke.

He’s taught him to paint his life in bolder colors—wild and free.

Well... a little wilder, slightly freer.

Maybe that's why he always looks forward to Chris sweeping him away on adventurous weekends between rescuing strays.

He's so happy it hurts when Chris kisses his forehead before he leaves to his own apartment, even though they'll see each other at work in an hour.

He's so content he gets jealous of nighttime Dennis who gets Chris all to himself, while daytime Dennis sighs over paperwork—work he remembers he's passionate about whenever Chris discusses it with that spark in his eye.

Lately, instead of drowning in what-ifs, Dennis has glimpsed something solid about him and Chris.

Aboutthem.

It fills him with lightness. Makes everything brighter.

That's why he ignores his father's first hundred calls weeks later.

He doesn't want to break this spell.

Because when lunch arrives as Chris walks in with takeout, sitting across from him but keeping their legs woven under the table as they chat and joke and roll their eyes at each other, Dennis only wants to focus on how easy this feels now.

31Playing Parts

Everything runs like silk these days. Dennis can't remember the last time he felt this content, and Chris's effortless smiles suggest he feels the same.

Nothing seems out of place until one late August evening. Sacramento's heat still lingers, but the shadows stretch longer now, painting the site in amber and gold as they finish another marathon day.

"Inspection went perfectly." Chris looks for the keys to lock the office door while Dennis gathers his things. "Dinner?" They take the stairs down to the main entrance, grateful to stretch their legs after hours of sitting.

"Anywhere's fine, I'm easy."

"Grotto's?"

"Ugh, no. Too crowded on weeknights."

"That new Thai place?"

"They use MSG."

"Sushi?"

"You choose, I really don't have an opinion."

Chris smacks his ass. Dennis hip-checks him so hard he nearly brains himself on the main entrance, both of them dissolving into laughter.

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