Page 18 of I Think They Love You

“I need help,” he admits.

“Is it time?” Jamie says.

“Time for what?”

“To Will Thacker your love life!”

On second thought: Denz could probably survive living alone.

Will Thacker Nights are a post-college tradition. The two of them on the sofa with thin-crust pizzas and mocktails served in champagne flutes, watching and rating classic rom-coms.

Seven words started it all: “I need to believe love is real!”

That’s what Jamie yelled after one of his typical three-week relationships imploded. History shows Jamie Peters had been “in love” at least six times before that night. He demanded Denz watchNotting Hillwith him. Two hours and too many cackles later, Denz wasn’t convinced Hugh Grant’s character (whom their tradition is named after) deserved a second chance. At least Jamie was hopeful again.

Secretly, Denz loves rom-com endings. The big moment where someone professes their love in the most unrealistic fashion. Proposing on an airplane. Running across New York City before midnight on New Year’s. Holding a boom box over your head.

But his life isn’t a movie.

Jamie says, “We’ll find you a boyfriend.”

“How?”

“Hire someone?”

“Too expensive.” Denz folds his pizza before biting. “Also, tooPretty Woman.”

“You’re much prettier than Richard Gere.” Jamie drops aDRAW FOURcard on Mikah’s red2. “Dating apps?”

Denz chucks a pizza crust at Jamie.

“Momma said no food fights, Uncle Denzie!” Mikah announces. He’s the only one allowed to use nicknames with Denz. He’s not ashamed of the chokehold Mikah has on him.

“Hinge?” Jamie suggests. “Tinder?”

“No and hell no.”

“Grindr? Ooh, Scruff?”

Denz stabs a straw in his new juice pouch, glaring. He’s always avoided dating apps. Being gayandBlack isn’t the easiest thing to navigate in online spaces. Why voluntarily sign up for people to showcase their racism or fetishism while hiding behind a fake profile pic? No, thanks.

“A past hookup?” Jamie proposes.

Denz considers. It goes against all his rules. He doesn’t save one-night stands’ numbers or DMs. Also, what’s he going to say to Tongue Ring Guy?BTW, when you’re done down there, do you have any plans tomorrow? Want to meet my family? Cool, pass me the lube.

He shakes his head. “It wouldn’t work.”

Tongue Ring Guy would never survive the Kenneth Carter Rite of Passage test. To date, there’s only been one man from Denz’s limited pool of suitors who has.

Which, of course, is why Jamie says, “What about an ex?”

Denz almost chokes on a pepperoni. He still hasn’t mentioned Braylon’s return to anyone. Not even Jamie. He also hasn’t been back to Crema since.

“Uno!” Mikah shouts while holdingtwocards.

Jamie face-palms. “If this little dude beats me again, I’m going to jump into traffic.”

Denz snorts, tearing off a new slice for his nephew.

---