Page 74 of Last First Kiss

“Who the bloody hell isBigelow?”

“Braylon,” Denz says calmly, like a mediator diffusing a potential hostile situation. “It’s a tea brand. I got it from Sprouts. I used the last of your Yorkshire Tea and—”

“And you thoughtthiswas a suitable replacement?”

Braylon’s barely in the camera’s view now. He towers over a still-seated Denz. All honey-brown skin and dark stubble andnarrowed eyes. His short curls are also inexplicably blond, but more of a sunny shade than platinum. He shakes a red box at Denz.

“You might as well just pee in a cup and call it English Breakfast!”

“To be fair,” Denz attempts, “English Breakfastdoestaste like pee.”

Braylon’s scowl deepens. It’s equal parts murderous andI still adore you in spite of your complete and utter ignorance.

“Hi, Braylon!” Jordan says.

Just like that, Braylon blinks out of his rage. He leans into the camera. “Oh, Jordan. How’s Atlanta?”

“The worst.”

“Join the club.” Braylon half turns. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to make sure my shot records are up to date being that my boyfriend is trying to poison me.”

“Bye, Braylon!”

With a huff, Braylon stomps away.

“Love you!” Denz yells after him.

The unintelligible response that follows from inside the apartment makes Denz flinch. He frowns at Jordan. “I told you he was gonna kill me.”

“You did,” Jordan confirms between laughs.

“Tell me more about the wedding planning.”

Jordan grins around a bite of his pickle. He launches into what he’s accomplished so far.

Denz nods his approval.

“Did you—” Jordan pauses to consider his words. “Did you know Amy well? In high school?”

“We had a couple of classes together.”

“Is that all?”

Denz’s lips purse thoughtfully. “Yeah, I guess. We didn’t run in the same circles.”

“So you never, like, hung around her? And… Jamie?”

Something brightens in Denz’s eyes. Like he understandswhere this is going. God, Jordan hopes so. He’s not even sure wherehe’sgoing with these questions. Maybe he shouldn’t have brought it up?

“Nooo,” Denz drags out, half smiling at the amount of cringe on Jordan’s face. “The three of us never went for milkshakes and gossip after school.”

“I didn’t say that!”

Denz rolls his eyes in thatit was impliedway. “My friendship with Jamie is fucking magical. It should be studied in the schools. But it’s also kind of rare. For him, I mean.”

Jordan raises his eyebrows, lost.

“Jamie’s parents kept him around a certain social circle his whole life,” Denz clarifies. “He’s not a big fan of their group of friends. Fortunately, Amy’s not like them. Jamie wouldn’t have stayed friends with her if she was.”