Page 155 of I Think They Love You

“I lied about things with Braylon.” Denz sighs. “We were never back together. It was all fake.”

Kenneth blinks, the wheels turning behind his eyes. He nods slowly, maintaining a steady gaze as he says, “No, it wasn’t.”

“Um, Dad, I’m pretty sure I know when I’m in a fake relationship.”

“No, no. I knew about that part.”

“You did?!”

Denz ignores Matty’s hostile stare the moment he raises his voice.

Kenneth rolls his eyes. “Denzel, I changed your shitty diapers. You thought I wouldn’t figure out you were lying about your relationship?”

“Maybe?”

“We knew you were lying. Meandyour mom,” Kenneth concedes.

Denz flails, knocking his muffin over. “Do the aunties know?” Fuck, does that mean he needs to check the cursed family group chat? “Oh God, is Uncle O the one who figured it out?”

Kenneth shakes his head, laughing lowly. “I love my sisters and their husbands, but they all missed this one. Even Auntie C.C.”

Despite the urge to throw himself through Crema’s glass front door, Denz smiles.

His dad reaches into his jacket pocket. He slides a Polaroid on the table. A gasp rushes up Denz’s chest. It’s the Polaroid from four years ago. From the New Year’s party.

“Where’d you get this?”

“Nic’s corkboard,” Kenneth admits. “I was helping her clean her bedroom. To make packing easier. It was right there.”

Denz hasn’t visited Nic’s room in a while. He remembers the fairy lights and peach walls he helped paint. All the K-pop posters. Over her desk is a corkboard with all her favorite photos. Including this one, apparently.

“This face”—Kenneth points at Polaroid Denz—“is the same one I saw every time you two were together. Then and now.”

Denz tentatively brushes his fingers over the photo. Two lovesick boys unprepared for what was next. “It’s really over,” he whispers.

“Didn’t look that way Saturday.”

“Yeah, well.” Denz isn’t in the mood to explain the rest.

“I didn’t recognize the Denzel I saw every day at work, but I know the man I saw with Braylon,” Kenneth says, covering Denz’s face on the photo. “That was my brilliant son. He was in love.Isin love. Those feelings are real.”

Tears line Denz’s eyes. No surprise. His dad gives him space to think, a minute turning to three, before Denz says, “I’m not ready to go back. To work. I need more time.”

“Okay.”

“I want to take a leave. Figure out who I am. Effective immediately.”

“Technically,I’m not your boss anymore, but—” Kennethfishes out his phone. He slips his glasses on, typing. A new email wooshes. He grins. “Done.”

Denz sags with relief. It’s time to be honest with himself. Discover what makes him happy. What he wants for the future, professionally and personally. And how to balance it all.

“Now,” Kenneth says, standing, “stop being a pain in the ass and answer your mom’s calls. She’s threatened to kick me out if I’ve ruined your life by choosing Kami.”

Denz face-palms, laughing. “Sorry, sorry. I’ll call.” Peeking through his fingers, he adds, “And Dad? You didn’t ruin my life.”

The softest, most Denz-like smile emerges on Kenneth’s mouth.

Before leaving, his dad unearths one last item from his jacket: a business card. “A gift.” He rests it next to the Polaroid. “Someone asked to meet with you. Maybe it’ll help you figure things out.”

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