Page 65 of I Think They Love You

Denz might drink himself into a real coma before the night’s over.

“Would you slow down.”

He barely hears Braylon’s gruff voice over Prince’s “Kiss.” Denz stops abruptly, spinning around to growl, “What was that?”

Braylon’s eyes widen. “What. Was. What?”

“That.”Denz gesticulates toward the bar. His dad and Kami are gone, but the aunties are still there, watching like vultures zoned in on a decaying body. “The whole—you know!”

“I have no clue what you’re talking about.”

“Thestory,Braylon,” Denz snaps.

“Wait.” Braylon shakes his head, disappointed. “You’re upset because I saved you from making an utter arse of yourself in front of your family?”

“Stop talking like Hugh Grant. I was gonna improvise.”

“You were going to fail.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

Braylon glowers. “What was wrong with what I said?”

Over Braylon’s shoulder, Denz clocks Eva being hauled to the dance floor by Uncle Orlando. Cheryl’s clutching her phone, thumbs at the ready to transcribe the latest entry in theKeeping Up with the Cartersgroup chat.

Pasting on a sparkling smile, Denz says, “You were too perfect. It was like a fantasy date recap onThe Bachelor.”

“And that’s a bad thing?”

“You’ve seen that show, right?”

“Of course. It’s all Kami and me talked about.” Braylon steps closer. “Sorry if my attempt to help you land a promotion by pretending we magically fell back in love came off as cheesy.”

“Like a jar of Cheez Whiz.” Denz’s shoulders droop. “And we’re doing this for you too.”

“Are we? You still haven’t held up your end of the deal.”

“You’ll meet the mayor.”

“When?”

Denz strains to hold his grin. To not shove Braylon into the champagne tower. He wishes Braylon would stop staring at him like that. With his stupid, pouty mouth. The one Denz almost kissed the other day.

A Rihanna song he’s heard a hundred times before comes on.

Denz remembers this:

January, sophomore year. Sitting in the passenger seat of Braylon’s Corolla, fingers tangled over the center console. The low hum of the radio. Braylon singing along with Rihanna while staring at him. Denz refusing to get out of the car, even though he was late for class, a constant rotation ofI never want to say goodbye to this boyin his head.

Now, Braylon grumbles, “Can’t believe I’m apologizing for being the Prince Charming you asked me to be.”

Denz sighs out, “You’re right.”

“I… am?”

“I’m not holding up my part. Would you like to meet Mayor Reynolds?”

A pause. Braylon’s eyes narrow suspiciously.

---