Page 157 of The Build-a-Boyfriend Project

“I know, Peter.”

“But . . .” Peter pauses, seeming to consider his words carefully. “I’d like to spend more time with you. Get to know the real you, give you a shot to know the real me,” he tells Eli, his smile reappearing, this one sadder than the last. “I’d like to give you the opportunity to earn it again. My trust, that is,” Peter adds.

“Are you sure you want to do that?” Eli asks. He wants this to be Peter’s choice, and no one else’s.

Then, after a beat, when Eli is given just enough time to consider Peter might actually say no, he nods. “You gave me a second chance. All those months ago. You deserve one too.”

Eli’s laugh is an exhausted, soft sound. “I don’t think those situations are comparable, Peter.”

He just smiles. “I think they are.”

Maybe it’s not the exact answer that Eli wants. Because he wants that movie magic. He wants Peter to declare his love for him, he wants Peter to lift him into the air, to kiss him, to forgive him for everything that he did. He wants the ending of Peter’s favorite romance novels.

But life isn’t a movie, it isn’t a romance book, and it isn’t full of such simple fixes.

That doesn’t mean the opportunities never arise, though.

“I’d really love that second chance, Peter,” Eli tells him.

And Peter smiles. “Are you free tonight?”

“You’re not showing Ryan around?”

“He’s visiting some relatives in Oakland with his parents. So I’m free. I thought . . . maybe we could get dinner, catch a movie? We never got that last date.”

Eli stares into the eyes of the man that he’s fallen in love with, the man he risked for everything he never realized he didn’t want. The man who found a way into his heart even when Eli didn’t want him to. Because love hits us at the most inopportune times. Especially when we aren’t looking for it.

And Eli Francis knows, deep down, that he’ll do whatever it takes to keep Peter Park as a piece of his life.

No matter the circumstances.

“Doobu?” Eli offers. “It’s on me.”

“Let’s hope it’s not this time.” Peter chuckles. “I’d hate to ruin another pair of your shoes.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Spider-Man 2, dir. by Sam Raimi

Two Years Later

“We’re late!” Patricia sings, power walking from the bus stop, her long legs carrying her along at a pace that neither Rose nor Eli can keep up with.

“We’re fine,” Rose tells her. “The event isn’t for another”—she pulls back her jacket sleeve, checking her watch—“three minutes.”

“And we’re five from the store,” Eli says, coming up behind her. He starts to jog to keep up with Patricia, Rose falling behind. Suddenly, he regrets the extra layer of his sweater as he begins to melt under the evening sun, catching brief escapes in the shade of the downtown buildings.

“I told you we should’ve taken a Lyft.” Patricia adds insult to injury.

“And I told you it’s rush hour, and all the rides were a hundred dollars minimum!” Eli takes several deep breaths, his lungs going cold despite the warm weather. “It’s a good thing I’m gay,” he whispers to himself, picking up the pace, pushing past a few pedestrians, and avoiding a bike as the rider zooms by the three of them.

“Use the bike lane, asshole!” Rose shouts at him, flipping him off before he turns the corner.

“Come on, he’s not important.” Patricia takes Rose’s hand, nearly yanking it out of its socket as they jaywalk through a red light, Eli just narrowly avoiding being hit by a Waymo.

“How much time do we have?” he asks, trying to rid his body of the adrenaline that’s now pumping through his veins after the near-death experience.

“Two minutes,” Patricia says. “We’re nearly there.”