Page 118 of I Think They Love You

“Really?”

“Please.”Nic is at least eight inches shorter than Bray, but she still manages to look down at him when she says, “Wait until you see the birthday parties. Or Valentine’s. The mayor goes all out.” She rolls her eyes. “God forbid another Sedwick gets engaged. Those are intense.”

“Who?”

“Listen, junior.” Nic pats the back of his hand. Denz swears there’s a sixty-year-old hairdresser trapped inside his sister’s body. “This is who we are. This is your life now. Parties. Smiling twenty-four-seven. Pretending to like strangers. Having people go through your trash to see what you ate for lunch.”

“They dowhat?” Bray goes pale.

“Enough, Nic.” Denz wedges himself between them. He passes Nic a highball of pineapple juice. “Stop scaring my boyfriend.”

She steals the cake slice, grinning. “Not my fault he’s weak-minded.”

“I’m not—”

“Jesus,” Denz says, interrupting Bray’s protest. “You’re just like Dad.”

Through a mouthful of cake, she says, “Thank you.”

“That wasn’t a compliment.”

“Neither is your face in this lighting.”

Denz chokes on a laugh. He’sdefinitelymissed Nic. He pivots to Bray. Hands him a rum and Coke. “Drink,” he instructs.

Bray does, whispering, “Who are the… Sedwicks?”

“Nobody important,” Denz asserts before downing his lemon drop martini. “Doing okay?”

He recognizes Bray’s restlessness. How pinched his face gets. The sheen of sweat on his forehead. That same nervous Bray he saw across the room almost three years ago. The one who tries so hard to look comfortable at parties.

Denz considered turning down his dad’s invitation to bring Bray. It’s not as if Denz wanted to show up either. But Bray insisted. Last New Year’s was spent with Emmanuel. Plus, after their final winter semester of hell at UGA, they needed this.

“I’m fine,” Bray says.

“Liar,” Denz teases. He loosens Bray’s poorly knotted tie.

“At least the aunties aren’t here,” Nic says.

Denz sighs.Thank you, Uncle Orlando, for wanting to reignite the fire in your marriage by taking Auntie Eva to Fiji for the holidays. Also, thanks for inviting Auntie Cheryl and Uncle Tevin along.

He’s pretty sure Bray wouldn’t survive a party as big as thisandthat introduction.

“How’s your dad?” Bray asks.

Denz leans his elbows on the half wall, sighing.

“Busy as ever.”

In the sea of bodies and overflowing champagne flutes, Denz easily finds his dad. Grape bow tie matching his pocket square. Classic Ralph Lauren tuxedo with tails. The one man in the room who moves from conversation to conversation with relaxed shoulders and genuine enthusiasm. Everything Denz fails to imitate at these parties.

They haven’t had five minutes to talk all night. But at least he knows Denz is here. At least he’s already given his smile of approval to Bray.

Bray bumps his shoulder. “Is this what you’re going to be like? After we graduate?”

“Hmm?”

“You know.” Bray nods toward the stage, lowering his voice to say, “Like your dad.”

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