Page 67 of I Think They Love You

“What do you mean?”

“Well.” His eyes sweep Denz’s face. “Should we kiss? To prove earlier wasn’t simply a show?”

“Oh,” Denz says hoarsely.

Should they? It might help. Denz is supposed to be concentrating on the party. He’s here to impress his dad with his leadership abilities, not make out with his—unreasonably hot—fake boyfriend. Though, with Braylon’s face so close, he’s finding it harder and harder to reason against the idea.

“Are you okay with it?” he asks, low, unsure.

“It’s in the agreement.”

Itisin the agreement:

#3: Kissing is allowed, but only with verbal consent.

Denz swallows, palms sweaty. “Is it okay if I kiss you? For, like, evidence. Or whatever.”

Wide brown eyes darken. This was a mistake. Braylon’s suggestion was a joke. He doesn’t actuallywantto kiss him. And Denz should have never—

Braylon’s lips are on his.

He’skissingDenz.

At first, it’s awkward. Noses colliding, foreheads knocking. Denz is eager to make it look cinematic, to fool everyone into believing they’re in love, but this is all wrong.

Until Braylon leans into it.

His hands cup Denz’s cheeks. The new angle eases a sigh from Denz’s lips. His knees shouldn’t be unsteady. This kiss is nothing like their first one at The Varsity. That was reckless and fun and real.

This is… a performance.

A fucking Emmy-worthy one.

A sly flick of tongue. The soft skin where stubble was. Pressure that tingles from lips to spine to toes.

Denz pulls away, heartbeat erratic. He refuses to assess Braylon’s expression. Pick it apart to see if he felt any of what Denz just did.

“Okay,” he croaks. “The mayor’s speech. I need to. Er, get onstage soon.”

Where the hell was Connor with an itinerary and a credible excuse for Denz to walk away?

Braylon’s mouth twitches. Denz doesn’t stay long enough to see if it’s a smile or a frown. He rushes to the corner where his team is staged. Denz gives himself thirty seconds to find his chill. Eric passes him a bottled water, not saying a word.

When Denz unlocks his phone to review his speech notes, the first thing that appears is the photo of Braylon standing tall in his tux, smiling right at the camera.

Denz can’t help grinning back.

-10-

Denz is too busy after Valentine’s Day to think about… other things.

Things like tripping and almost falling off the stage before introducing the mayor at the gala.

Things like watching Uncle Tevin drunkenly convince half the guests to join him in doing the Cupid Shuffle after the speeches.

Things like The Kiss.

The work doesn’t end after the last toast, and the venue is cleaned and the reviews from “Denzel Carter’s biggest night yet”—as stated on TFW—pour in. On Monday, the follow-up emails begin. Assignments for his dad’s retirement party land in his inbox before 10:00A.M.Getting an early start on finding a band, bargaining with the photographer for a better rate, coordinating the guest list is key.

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