Page 112 of The Build-a-Boyfriend Project

For a moment, he considers the future. Eli will show Michael the real article about Peter, and he’ll fall so in love with it and realize the error of his ways that he’ll offer Eli a staff writer position at Vent. Peter will finally be brave enough to query an agent, and of course they’ll sign him right away and sell his book.

Eli could tell him. He could tell Peter about his feelings, be just as honest with Peter as he’s asked Peter to be with him. He thinks back to their pull-out clause, his heart aching at the idea that he once thought he couldn’t love Peter Park.

Because anyone would be lucky to have that privilege.

Peter Park deserves someone better than Eli, he knows that. But what if he accepted Eli for who he is? What if they had a chance?

What if?

Eli watches Peter as he makes his way toward him and his mother. He smiles, accepting the hot chocolate with another kiss on the cheek from Peter, breathing in the sickly sweet smell of the melted chocolate, a dollop of whipped cream already melting on the surface.

He leans into Peter, appreciating that warmth, that comfort.

It’s a feeling he could certainly get used to.

Chapter Fourteen

Imagine Me & You, dir. by Ol Parker

Eli feels his heart thudding in his chest, bouncing around like a bongo drum, like it might burst out like he’s John Hurt in Alien.

He stares at Michael as he reads the article. Not the fake-dating article.

The article.

Lavender Country.

He knew today had to be the day, that he couldn’t put this off any longer. He has to share what he’s been doing with Michael, come clean about this whole scheme of his, to show his work and plead with Michael to believe in him.

Just this once.

Eli licks his lips, his throat impossibly dry, his tongue heavy.

“I know this isn’t—” he starts to say. But Michael just holds up a hand, silencing Eli. He rubs his sweaty palms on his knees, watching as Michael’s eyes carefully dart across the page, reading the article line by line.

The seconds count down like hours, Eli wondering if he’ll make it out of the building alive. How could he think this would go well? Of course Michael won’t go along with this plan, why would he?

For years, Michael has told him exactly what he’s looking for. And for years, Eli has refused to give it to him. And for what? All because his pride told him he was above writing the kinds of low-effort “articles” that Michael was looking for. Because he never wanted to sink so low as to write listicles about some Marvel movie garbage or steal content from people online for their own benefit.

How could he possibly think that this would go well for him, how could he—

“I love it.”

Eli stares at Michael for a moment. “Huh?”

“I love it.” Michael scrolls back to the top of the article, rereading the first few lines. “This story of growing up so isolated and alone, with no one to learn from . . .” Michael pauses. “It’s really good, Eli.”

He wants to laugh, but he stops himself, figuring it probably wouldn’t read as the best reaction.

“You’re not serious.”

Michael raises an eyebrow. “What? You think it’s not up to snuff?”

“No, no, it’s just, well . . .” Eli had expected anger. He expected Michael to laugh at him the moment Eli gave him the incorrect article. He’d also expected it to be Michael’s final straw, for him to order Eli to pack his things and make his way out of the Vent offices, never to be seen again.

Eli expected to spend his night job hunting.

“It’s not what you asked for.” Eli swallows.