Page 39 of I Think They Love You

Shit, when did starting a simple conversation with someone who’s seen you naked become the toughest part of my day?

His cheeks warm.No, no. His brain can’t go there. But it does. Flashbacks of Braylon stretched out on his dorm bed wearing nothing but a sleepy smile, his fingers drawing lazy circles on Denz’s bare shoulder, entices a twitching half erection in his slacks.

“So, uh…” He wiggles in his chair. “Come here often?”

Fuck, really? What’s next? I’ve lost my number, can I have yours?

“Sometimes,” Braylon says evenly.

“And you drink… tea now,” Denz points out, because he apparently has the conversational abilities of a thirteen-year-old boy on a first date while his parents eagerly spy from two tables over.

“Hard not to get into tea while living in London,” Braylon deadpans. “The company I worked for had shit coffee. The tea was exceptional. Is that a problem?”

“Nope.”

Enjoy your sewage water,Denz thinks, but doesn’t say.

“You’re making a face,” Braylon says.

“I’m not,” Denz argues, clearly making a face.

“If you have a prob—”

“Let’s just discuss how we’re gonnaWedding Datethis situation of ours,” Denz suggests.

“How we’re going towhatnow?”

“You know.” Denz gesticulates wildly. “The Wedding Date?”

“Is that a reality show? I’m not into those.”

Denz growls so deeply, Matty almost drops a mug behind the bar. Thankfully, he just got on shift. Otherwise, Denz suspects his iced latte would have an extra hint offuck youin it. “Since when are you not into reality shows?” He sighs. “The Wedding Dateis a movie. A rom-com.”

“Haven’t seen it.”

“Of course not. I forgot you don’t know real cinema. Only Marvel movies.”

“Those are quality films,” Braylon says. “Captain America: The Winter Soldieris a proper rom-com. Friends-to-lovers-to-enemies. Amnesia. Star-crossed lovers. Don’t get me started on theCaptain Marvelfilms. Carol and Maria obviously—”

“Boring,” Denz interrupts. He gives a quick plot overview ofThe Wedding Date.

Braylon’s forehead wrinkles. “But you’re not paying me. Are you?”

“No!”

Something flashes in Braylon’s eyes, the tiniest shift in the corners of his mouth. Denz focuses on his drink.

“We need to establish expectations. Like in the movie. We need to be on the same page.”

“About how this is going to work? Between us?”

“Exactly!”

Braylon pulls a fountain pen and leather notebook from his bag. At the top of a clean page, he writes,The Rules of Dating.He underlines the title.

Denz blinks. “You’re writing this down? By hand?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

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