Page 27 of I Think They Love You

“And for you, Mr. Denzel?”

“The gourmet burger,” Denz says. He adds a nonalcoholic fizzy lemonade, though he knows he’ll need something stronger by the end of the night. Too bad he’s driving.

Colin pivots to Braylon. “For you, sir?”

Braylon’s eyes scan the menu again. An idea hits Denz. Something he planned with Jamie. “Start him with the mixed greens salad. Light vinaigrette,” he tells Colin.

“Uh…” Braylon tries.

“Grilled chicken for his entrée. Louisiana rice.” Denz grins at his parents. Knowing his boyfriend’s order will undoubtedly prove their relationship is serious.

“Excellent choices,” Colin says.

“Actually,” Braylon says before Colin can leave, “I have some changes.”

Denz chokes on his water. “Um. What?”

In his periphery, Kenneth frowns. “I’ll have the grilled Angus strip,” Braylon says, his gaze flitting from Denz to Colin. “Medium well, please. No salad. Instead, an order of the salt-and-vinegar chips—sorry, the fries. Thank you.”

“No problem.” Colin disappears.

“My apologies.” Braylon lays a hand over Denz’s on the table. “I’d love to try something new tonight. If that’s okay?”

Denz pastes on a fake smile. He doesn’t trust himself to speak without telling Braylon how hereallyfeels.

“I love your accent!” Leena says, seemingly on her way to forgiveness.

Braylon runs a bashful hand over his curls. Denz wonders if they’re soft. The same texture his hair would get between swim seasons, just before he buzzed it all off again. On second thought,no. That’s the last thing Denz wants to find out.

“It’s kind of automatic now, innit?” Braylon playfully nudges Denz. He doesn’t smell like coconut bodywash anymore. There’s notes of freshly peeled oranges and cardamom. Just another thing for Denz to hate. “Hard not to pick up while I lived there.”

“In London,” Kenneth deadpans.

“Correct.”

“Where you went for work.” Kenneth swirls his whiskey. “After breaking my son’s heart.”

Braylon clears his throat. “Well. Yes.”

“Did you like it there?”

“It was… different.”

“Different, good? Different, as in the biggest mistake of your life?” He doesn’t wait for Braylon to elaborate. “And the job? PR, right? Make any good connections? New relationships? Was it worth—”

“Dad,”Denz cuts in. It’s not like he didn’t expect this. But hedidn’t anticipate the urge to protect Braylon from it too. As much as he wants to watch Braylon squirm, he’s bailing Denz out of a disastrous situation. He deserves a little slack.

For now.

“I’m getting reacquainted with your new boyfriend,” Kenneth tells him.

“I know, Dad, but—”

“So, Braylon,” Kenneth says, his tone casual, “what brought you back? Job transfer? New career opportunity?”

There’s a long pause. Braylon traces the condensation on his glass with a finger. “Partly. And… my dad died.”

“Oh God.” Leena’s hands fly over her mouth.

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