Page 76 of I Think They Love You

It was the best thing Denz has ever eaten.

He misses thesandwich,not the way Braylon would cook one for each of them, brushing greasy kisses along the side of Denz’s neck afterward.

“So, uh.” He coughs. “Your plan?”

“You mean my brilliant idea?”

“Yes, that. Whatever.”

Denz watches as Braylon switches between flipping bread and talking. He wants to create video content for the nonprofit’s socials. Friendly staff intros spliced together with day-to-day activities. Rapid-fire Q&A stuff, a tour of the facility. Unfortunately, Braylon also proposes a dance video, but to Perfume Genius, not Ariana.

To his own surprise, Denzlikesthe concept.

“I can only Google so much on how to make relatable andinformative content,” Braylon says, lifting his phone. “I need an expert.”

“Wow. Is that a compliment?”

“Is it working? Would it help if I said please?”

“Only if you get on your knees too.” Heat flares under Denz’s cheeks. He didn’t mean for it to sound so… suggestive. He almost drops his phone again, stammering, “What I meant to say is—”

“You’re into groveling?” Braylon flexes an eyebrow.

“Are you kink-shaming me?”

“I’m asking if you’ll help me with another project.For teens. You’re the one being inappropriate.”

He’s close to apologizing, until Braylon’s lips twitch like he’s losing a battle with a laugh. Denz snorts out, “You asshole.”

“Is that a yes?”

“It’s amaybe.” Denz bravely rolls to his back again. “Approval pending.”

He lets the silence stretch between them like the low-hanging clouds outside. “Is this another attempt to impress your boss? For the promotion?”

“Something like that.”

“You still haven’t told me much about it.”

“It’s all, er…” There’s the nervousness Denz was expecting earlier. Braylon clears his throat. “What did you say?Pending.”

Denz crosses his ankles. Outside of the introduction to the mayor and providing general help with the spring break day party, he’s been too preoccupied with his own responsibilities to truly assist Braylon. He can do more.Needsto do more. He’d still be outside Kingfisher & Redbud, explaining to his parents why he lied to impress them, if it wasn’t for Braylon.

When this is all over, Denz wants Braylon to accomplish his goals. Get whatever he needs to move up. Even if it means Denz’s own situation is… well,pending.

It’s too quiet.

Braylon says, “Everything okay?”

Denz stares off to the open patio door. He listens to the rain’s soft rhythm. He’s never been good at talking about his failures with others. Not even Kami or Nic know the darkest parts of his brain. But it’d be nice to talk to Braylon about what happened.

Like they used to do in Athens.

In the achingly vulnerable hours of an early morning or a drowsy midnight, they’d whisper their secrets to each other. Braylon’s struggles as a student athlete. Denz’s battle with family pressure. The grim days when Braylon missed his mom. Their dads.

After the breakup, Denz locked away that part of himself. He only shares the bare minimum now. What’s necessary.

But, fuck, he misses it.

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