Page 14 of I Think They Love You

Denz scrambles away like a cat frightened by its own shadow. He apologizes to the intern he nearly knocks over and for the mess he’s definitely not going back to clean up now.

On the edge of Denz’s desk is a bowl of assorted candies. They’re for the days he’s overwhelmed by a deadline. Stressed about an event. As he fishes out a roll of Smarties, he decides today is that day. It’s been two hours and he still can’t get his mind off the staff meeting.

In a few months, 24 Carter Gold will have a new CEO. His family’s company could be run by an outsider. What does thatmean for him? What if the boss wants to move in a new direction, remove him from planning events like the annual NYE party? What if he doesn’t even have a job? What if—

When he looks down, his fingertips are covered in multicolored dust and the Smarties wrapper is empty. He groans before opening Facebook on his phone.

His disdain for the archaic, information-stealing app is well known. But the company’s Gen X and Millennial clientele still flock to that hellsite to voice their opinions in a nearly limitless character space. Maintaining an account is a necessary evil.

He’s so distracted, so distressed, his thumb accidentally hits the blue-and-white globe icon instead of switching over from his personal profile to the company one. Hundreds of notifications drop down. The first sucks the air out of his lungs. One of thosefour years ago today…posts. A Polaroid of four smiling faces with Kami’s looping script on the bottom of the white border:

1/1/2021

In the photo, sandwiched between Nic and Kami, are Denz and Bray.

Nausea churns in Denz’s stomach. He can hear Bray’s scratchy laugh in his ear. Smell that coconut bodywash. Taste the peachy burst of champagne while kissing Bray at midnight. Feel the spiky buzz cut under his palms, the sinewy muscles along Bray’s back as they had sex until dawn broke the sky apart.

It’s too much. Except, the Bray in that photo isn’t who Denz saw at Crema. The fuckingBraylonwith his detached expression. Cold accent and hardened eyes. So far from the man Denz knew before London.

“Ugh.” Kami flops onto the chaise sofa opposite Denz. “I’m over today.”

Denz is so startled, his phone flies from his hands. It lands facedown on his desk.

“Wh-what?”

Kami’s suspicious gaze drifts from his face to the candy bowl. “How many Smarties have you had?”

“I’m not Mikah,” he says. “I just… hate Mondays.”

“Okay, Garfield, calm down.”

Kami plucks a pack of M&M’s from the bowl. “Weird meeting.” She separates the candies by color before munching on a green one, her favorite.

“Can’t believe Dad’s retiring. I thought he’d be running this place forever.”

“You did?”

“Let’s be real, Kam. He’s a great dad, but a better boss.” Denz crunches on a new Smartie. “He sees this place more than any of us.”

“True.”

“No offense to Eric, but I’m glad you nominated yourself,” Denz says. “You’d run the fuck out of this place.”

A grin creeps across Kami’s cheeks. “I have a few ideas.”

Denz perks up. “Ooh. Tell me you’re ready to jump back into weddings.”

It’s something else he can’t stop thinking about—what Eva said. The missing spark around here. With the holidays over, there’s at least a hundred newly engaged couples around the city, all looking for someone to plan their big day.

Kami’s nose wrinkles. “Why would I want us to get back into weddings?”

“Hello! They’re what put us on the map!” Denz steals a red M&M. “It’s what we’re known for.”

“Exactly.Known for. The past. We’re better without them.”

Are they? Denz should tell her about the cryptic conversation he overheard. Kami needs to know what she’s walking into.

He frowns when her hand grabs his on the desk. Great. A pep talk’s incoming.

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