Page 131 of I Think They Love You

After listening to him, Denz does too.

Braylon’s expression shifts. “I can’t date anyone here. If I get this promotion, I’ll be in Los Angeles.”

“You’re moving?Again?”

Braylon sighs as if he’s been holding on to this one detail for a reason. As if he’s been anticipating Denz’s reaction. “Nora’s expanding,” he explains. “There’s a new location in Santa Monica. I’d be helping with start-up.”

Denz is going to scream.

Braylon kept this from him. He never had any intention for their arrangement to go past early April. They had a deal. Braylon helps him and, in turn, Denz helps Braylon break his heart for the second time.

The kisses, the sex—it was meaningless. They had fun, got off. The end.

It’s the same thing Denz’s done with every guy since college. It’s what he’s always after: a clean break. No repeats. No attachments. No falling in love.

This was never about them reconnecting. Braylon is his past, not a future. Denz’s endgame is being the Carter everyone’s expected him to be since day one.

And that emptiness behind his ribs? The place Braylon’s not supposed to be anyway? He’ll fill it with something else.

He’s done that before too.

Five Years Ago

Senior Year—Spring Semester

“Minor crisis.” Bray stands, pressing a peck to Denz’s temple. “BRB.”

Early February sunlight dusts the modest interior of One More Cup golden. They don’t come here often. Usually, Denz will snag something from Jittery Joe’s or Starbucks on campus. But neither coffee shop has the quiet, college-town normalcy of OMC. Or the triple-chocolate scones Emmanuelinhaleswhenever he visits.

He’s across from Denz, savoring his extra-hot latte. Bray is the perfect mix of his parents. His mom’s high cheekbones and rounded nose. His dad’s chin dimple and wide, infectious smile. In his eyes too, Emmanuel’s a shade lighter than his cool umber complexion, a rich contrast to his favorite pale blue button-down.

“That boy.” Emmanuel nods to the café corner where Bray’s pacing, phone to his ear. “Think it’s the swim team again?”

“Probably,” Denz agrees. “Lyle freaking out over his backstroke time. Keegan lost his earbuds.Again. Jake F. and Jake D. fighting over the same girl. Who’s hosting the next pizza night…”

“He’s always watching out for them.” Emmanuel shakes his head. “I can’t believe they didn’t name him captain this year.”

“Bray didn’t want it,” Denz mentions. “He doesn’t like that kind of attention.”

He smiles softly. He still has the video Nic sent him from New Year’s Eve—the one of half-drunk Bray, washed in multicolored spotlights, doing the Wobble in the middle of all the guests. Denz is saving it for future blackmail.

“He’d rather be the heart than the brain,” Emmanuel says. He chuckles. “Got that from his mother.”

Denz’s lips curve higher.

“He’ll grow out of it,” Emmanuel notes. “After graduation. You’ll see.”

Fuck, Denz hopes not. He loves this Bray. Thoughtful and observant and wanting nothing to do with being the focus of every room he walks in. Serenely confident when it’s just the two of them. He can’t imagine a different version.

“Life changes a lot of things once you’re on your own,” Emmanuel tells him.

Denz tears at his flaky croissant. “I guess.”

“What about you?”

“Um, me?”

Emmanuel laughs fondly. “Yes. What are your plans?” He dips a piece of scone into his mug. “Graduation will be here sooner than you think. Are you thinking about the future?”

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