Page 74 of I Think They Love You

“I doubt that.”

“Anyway…” Jamie drops to his knees, searching under the coffee table for his door keys. “I don’tmindbasketball. Sometimes. Jordan invited me.”

There’s a beat. Jamie bangs his head on the table. Cautiously,he peeks from behind Denz’s empty water glass like a mouse hunting for food.

“That’s cool, right?”

When they were younger, seventeen to Jordan’s sixteen, Denz would sometimes wake up to find Jamie and Jordan whispering and giggling. Fighting through another round of Mario Kart. He was never jealous of their connection. His cousinandhis best friend getting along? It was the best.

But after Jordan left for UCLA, the trio reverted to a duo again. They never really got back to status quo. Denz chalks it up to getting older. He can’t remember half his high school classmates, despite how often Facebook tries to remind him.

He’s happy they’re hanging out, even if it’s without him.

He shrugs. “Jordan needs friends.”

Something weird passes over Jamie’s face. He blinks it away. “You sure you don’t want me to stay home?”

“All I need is this.” Denz raises his popcorn bag. “If you’re not spending Sunday nights with a hard lemonade, junk food, and watching a Netflix docuseries, you’re doing adulting wrong.”

“You forgot a vibrator.”

“Stay out of my room!”

Jamie jiggles his keys. “Fine. Our next WTN is a Jane Austen adaptation.Persuasion. It’s a rom-com.”

“I’ll be here.” Denz waves a dramatic arm at the sofa. “Living my best life.”

Except, when Jamie’s gone, even with the TV droning and the balcony’s French doors cracked to let in the soft drumbeat of raindrops, it’s too quiet. Denz’s mind drifts. To his dad’s office. His awkward conversation with Kami. All the way back to Auntie Cheryl’s words at the beginning of the year.

You’re young. Life is fun now. Why commit to anything or anyone, right?

He was so confident they were all wrong. No one understood him or his dreams. How he’s always wanted to be the hero people look up to.

But does Denz really know how tobea hero? A role model? As great as his dad?

On the coffee table, his phone buzzes. A text notification. He stares at the name—Formerly Known As Bray—for a long second. All weekend, he’s thought about texting Braylon. But when he’s in his head like this, he’s no fun to talk to.

Braylon’s not obligated to deal with Moody Denz. Not anymore.

Another text. Denz considers leaving it unread until tomorrow, when he’s less grumpy or sad or covered in white cheddar cheese dust. But he can’t help himself.

Formerly Known As Bray

I have an idea. I might need your help again.

sounds dangerous. should i contact the white house? parliament?

Formerly Known As Bray

Don’t be rude.

sorry thats my default mode

whats the idea?

Formerly Known As Bray

Are you interested in “coaching” the STL staff on proper social media content?

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