Page 163 of I Think They Love You

The corners of Braylon’s mouth inch up.

“I’m so fucking tired of lying and pretending,” Denz confesses. “I’m tired of being the Carter people expect. I’m tired of trying to be the Denzel everyone loves when—when the one person who’s loved me as plain old Denz is you, and I have no clue why.”

A retort is forming on Braylon’s lips. Denz gets there first.

“I quit my job.”

“You—what?”

“It’s okay!” Denz grins. “I have a plan: freelance work. I’m starting up my own social media business. I have a meeting with Nora on Monday about it.”

Something like pride crinkles Braylon’s eyes.

“It’s a start,” Denz says.

“Not a bad one, if I’m being honest.”

The humor behind Braylon’s voice gives Denz a rush of dopamine. That and the strains of music—a deep bass melody, sweet vocals—coming from somewhere nearby. It’s the song they danced to at the engagement party. Holding a wireless Bluetooth speaker over his head, looking like a young John Cusack, is Jamie.

Denz wants to laugh, but tears spill out instead.

“You were right. I don’t have a place here,” he says. “All my life, I’ve lived in a world my family built for me. The only time I felt like I made a home for myself was with you.” He pauses, wiping his cheeks. “You were my home. Youaremy home.”

Braylon scrubs a hand down his own face, exhaling.

“I know you’re scared to let people in,” Denz quickly says.“That the universe is going to take one more thing from you. But fuck, I want to be your home, wherever that is.”

Silence.

Braylon’s mouth is a thin line that looks a lot like doubt. Like this is one more time where Denz is saying the right thing at the right time to impress someone instead of letting Braylon see him for who he really is: simply Denz.

Too many beats pass. Tears slice hotly down his cheeks. But Denz refuses to walk away.

Not until Braylon says something.Anything.

He doesn’t. He pulls out his phone. Swipes a few times, and turns the screen for Denz to see. It’s a Delta eCredit. A one-way, nonrefundable ticket.

Destination: LAX.

“I was waiting until after your dad made his announcement,” Braylon admits. “Just in case.” Now, he looks nervous. “I wanted you to come with me. But I wasn’t sure you’d say yes. And then you—”

Reality smacks Denz in the face.

“Then I said what I said the other night,” he fills in.

Braylon squares his shoulders. “None of it was fake for me either. Not a second. But I got so scared. Ironic, innit?” He laughs sadly. “That I’d be afraid ofyouturningmedown when I’m the one who didn’t give you a chance last time.”

“I wouldn’t have.”

“Even now?”

Denz smiles. “You know, there’s no Varsity in LA.”

“But there’s In-N-Out.” Braylon blinks back tears. Hopeful, he adds, “And there’s you. If you want? Will you come with me?”

Denz pauses. He never thought he’d hear those five words again. The ones from college. This time, Denz doesn’t need weeks to decide. He doesn’t need a minute.

He already knows. He’salwaysknown.

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