Page 156 of I Think They Love You

Then, his dad’s gone.

Denz forgets about his tea, the upside-down muffin. He grabs the card. His eyes scan over the Helvetica font. Above an email and telephone number, it reads:

NORA BRIDGER

FOUNDER & CEO

SKYE’S THE LIMIT

-22-

Surprisingly, Denz doesn’t spend two weeks waffling over what his next move is. It only takes one Will Thacker Night with Jamie. They demolish two large pizzas while watchingForgetting Sarah Marshall. When Jason Segel’s character starts working on his Dracula puppet opera, Denz has an epiphany. After, in a fit of adrenaline and insomnia, finally cleaning his room and discovering a cranberry-stained T-shirt under his bed, Denz knows for sure.

It’s Braylon’s T-shirt. The one he wore while cooking French toast grilled cheeses with Denz and Mikah. A soft, gray reminder of a man who left behind the job he was expected to work for a place he loves. Somewhere he makes a difference. A position he would’ve never gone after had it not been for Denz.

Well, the Denz that Braylon saw, anyway. Someone who was unabashedly himself. Who made Braylon believe he could be that way too.

He sits with the T-shirt in his lap. With the edges of a white business card digging into his fingers. With his dad’s words in his head. With hundreds of social media messages he’s collected over the years from young queer followers thanking or praising him in his phone.

He sits with a sudden lightness in his chest, like he knows what he’s meant to do.

Like he’s always known where he belonged, but never thought it was good enough for a Carter.

But it doesn’t have to be. He’s never had to meet anyone’s expectations. Just his own.

After hours of research, Denz composes an email.

He does something he’s never done before: he takes a leap, knowing there might not be anyone there to catch him.

the Carter Family Group Chat

Today 9:09A.M.

Aunt Cheryl Carter

EMERGENCY! Whos this man holding hands with Kamila THE NEW CEO and Mikah at the park?? ITS ALL OVER TFW!

Nic Carter

I FACKING KNEW IT! *FUCKING! damn autocorrect

Uncle Orlando Rivera

That is so fetch.

Nic Carter

Uncle O stop with the white girl teen comedy references!

Aunt Cheryl Carter

Leena did you know about this?

Leena Carter

That’s my daughter’s boyfriend. He’s wonderful. She loves him just like I love all my children, including the ones with potty mouths.

Nic Carter

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