Page 144 of Last First Kiss

He knows Denz wasn’t always like that. He’s had his struggles with his sexuality. But he rarely let that side affect him.

Braylon sighs. “Anyway. I didn’t come outforDenz. Hell, after we first met, I didn’t think I’d ever see him again. I came out for myself. I was so exhausted from letting the world dictate my happiness. I wanted control back.”

“That’s… amazing.”

A pause.

Braylon scratches his temple. “Even after I came out, I wasn’t confident in who I was. Not like Denz. Fuck, I didn’townmy gayness until after I got the job at Skye’s the Limit.”

“You didn’t?”

“No! But I loved your cousin. All five feet, eight inches of him.”

“He’s five-nine.”

“He’s a liar!”

This time, they both crack up.

When he’s done, Braylon says, “We don’t have to beanythingjust because the world says we have to.”

Jordan bites on his cheek, steadily absorbing everything Braylon tells him. He doesn’t know what to say.Ishe supposed to say anything?

Eventually, he whispers, “Thanks, Braylon.”

Braylon grins at him. It’s wide and unrestrained and almost brotherly. So much like Denz.

“I should let you go,” Jordan says.

“Oh, yes.” Braylon’s gaze drifts off, like he’s checking the time. “I should get home to your cousin. It’s our date night.” His mouthpurses. “Is it weird that I can’t wait to see him even if he drinks all my tea and leaves the milk in the fridge almost empty?”

Jordan’s face brightens. “Sounds like marriage material to me.”

“Oh, shut it.”

Braylon gives him that affectionate smile again. Jordan happily returns it.

“I can promise you, Jordan,” Braylon says, “whatever you’re feeling is real. Even if you can’t explain it. Or don’t have a proper name for it. It’s real. Let itbe real. Not for anyone else. Just yourself.”

A calm spreads through Jordan’s limbs. He’s always fought hard to be the best. To impress others. So much of who and what he is has been to prove he’s capable. That he’s doing everything right.

Jordan’s never sat back and let anything be just for him.

“Okay,” he whispers, smiling genuinely.

“Call again soon?”

Jordan nods. He will.

-16-?Approve the Seating Chart

July whips by in a flurry of endless to-do lists and ten-hour workdays and feverish summer heat.

From Monday to Friday—and sometimes Saturday and Sunday—Jordan’s in “go” mode. When he’s not with Nic, he’s with Amy and Sam. Jamie’s around too, not that they’re ever alone for long.

Not that Jordantrustshimself to be alone with Jamie without something—or someone—going down.

But they share little stares. Brief smiles. On one occasion, Jamie’s hand strategically finds the small of Jordan’s back. His fingertips skim the outline of Jordan’s ass. A shiver and a memory and a recurring need to find out what Jamie might do if Jordan was face down on his bed again.