Page 121 of Under Construction

Dennis tugs on one of Chris's shirts, burying his nose in the collar. It smells like Chris’s hugs mixed with fabric softener. When he adds one of Chris's baseball caps, tilting his chin up defiantly, Chris dissolves into laughter.

"Who even are you right now?" Chris reaches to adjust the cap. "I've never seen you in anything but designer clothes and now you're stealing my stuff?"

They end up in a cramped pizza booth, shoulders pressed together as they devour slice after slice with greasy fingers, washing it down with ice-cold Cokes. Dennis is so relieved the gala’s over that he doesn't even lecture Chris about saturated fats or blood sugar spikes.

They share a chocolate sundae afterward, fighting over one spoon.

Chris nudges Dennis’s elbow.

"Hmm?" Dennis digs through the ice cream, hunting for chocolate syrup deposits—Chris's favorite part.

"Have you ever been in love?" Chris asks, licking the spoon clean before giving Dennis expectant puppy eyes for more.

Dennis focuses on scooping up more syrup, waiting for the drips to slow.

How to tell Chris? Maybe the truth is simplest.

"Yes." He carefully swipes the bottom of the spoon against the glass rim to catch stray drops, then looks up at Chris with soft eyes and an even softer smile. "Yes, I have."

Chris savors the next bite, eyes fluttering closed at the sweetness—he's down to four pumps of syrup in his daily mochas now instead of six, thanks to Dennis’s constant nagging. If anything, it makes dessert taste even better.

"What did you think about it?"

Dennis sets the spoon down, leaning into Chris’s shoulder. His fingers trace patterns on Chris's jeans while he thinks.

"I guess... I learned who I really am? Like how to be myself without apologies." His eyes flick up to Chris’s then back to his hands, hyperaware of Chris's intense gaze. "The right person just... unlocks something in you, you know?"

"How about you?" Dennis asks, aiming for casual even as his heart wobbles. He grins up at Chris—might as well face potential heartbreak head-on. "Ever been in love?"

Chris nods, arms folded on the table as his eyes roll up in thought. He glances at Dennis, then elbows him until Dennis digs out another Hershey’s-heavy scoop from what's left of the ice cream.

"I have," Chris says simply.

Dennis ferries the spoon over, palm underneath to catch sticky drips. "Learn anything from it?"

Sigh. Why does he even ask when he doesn’t want to know? He’s a goddamn masochist, that’s why. But Dennis keeps his smile on his face, even as something in his chest sinks.

Chris swirls the ice cream in his mouth thoughtfully, still staring at the ceiling.

Dennis shovels a huge spoonful into his own mouth, hoping sugar might dull the ache.

"Yeah." Chris is suddenly grinning at him, making Dennis raise an eyebrow.

"What'd you learn?" Dennis asks, actually curious now.

Chris's lips twitch at the corners, the same way they do before he makes Dennis’s life difficult. "I learned that I really—" He shifts closer.

"Really?" Dennis prompts.

"Really really—" Chris moves in, his breath warm on Dennis’s cheek.

Dennis tilts toward him, drawn in despite himself. "Really what?"

"Really really really—" Chris's mouth brushes Dennis’s ear.

"Chri-IS!" Dennis whines, the suspense killing him.

Chris's voice drops to a hot whisper:

---