Page 161 of The Build-a-Boyfriend Project

“Do you have anything to do after us?”

“They want me to sign stock,” Peter says. “But that shouldn’t take too long.”

“Okay, we can wait for you outside,” Eli says, knowing the bookstore is just minutes from closing, and, given the preorder numbers that Peter already has to sign, it might be a while before he’s done with all the extra copies the store ordered.

“Enough!” Patricia strolls up, stepping beside Eli. “You two can eye-fuck later.”

“Hey, Patricia.” Peter smiles.

“Hey, Peter.” She opens the book to the title page where Peter has been signing all night. “Here’s the sticky note.”

“I’ll see you in a bit.” Eli leans over the table, kissing Peter once more before he steps away.

Rose and Patricia join Eli outside a moment later where Peter’s parents are hanging out, their books freshly signed.

“We were worried you weren’t going to make it,” Mrs. Park tells Eli, wrapping him up in a hug.

“We almost didn’t.” Eli hugs her back before he gives Mr. Park a firm handshake. Despite how easily Eli had been welcomed into Peter’s family, how he’d already gone to Georgia with Peter last year for Christmas, and for his mother’s birthday before that, Mr. Park still intimidated Eli in an odd way. It certainly hadn’t been helped by the awkward “I want to know your intentions with my son” conversation that’d happened the moment he and Mr. Park were alone for the first time.

“He’s just trying to scare you,” Peter had promised Eli afterward. “Trust me, Dad’s a softie, and he likes you.”

“My first autograph!” Rose does a little dance, showing off the way that Peter signed her name.

“This is so fucking cool, Eli.” Patricia looks at her own name.

“I know,” Eli says. “I’m so proud of him.”

It takes another thirty minutes of waiting before Peter is done. Eventually, Peter makes his way back out, Amber right behind him. They whisper a few words to each other, hugging before Amber says goodbye to Eli.

“They gave me a free tote bag!” Peter shows off the store logo on the side.

Eli wants to hug his boyfriend, but lets Peter’s parents get in first, whispering their congratulations to him. Peter has to wipe the red lipstick off his cheek when his mother is done. “Are you all finished up?” she asks.

“Yep, all done!”

“You did so good!” Eli throws his arms around Peter, kissing him gently.

“Ugh, gross . . .” Rose fakes a vomiting sound. “Come on, we’re going out to celebrate.”

“Actually, um . . . if it’s okay, I’m pretty beat,” Peter tells them. “And my hand hurts.”

“Are you sure, Peter?” his father asks. “We have reservations.”

“He gets all big and famous and suddenly he’s too good for us,” Patricia teases, rubbing Peter slowly on the back.

“We’re gonna do our own celebration.” Eli steps in, sensing Peter’s discomfort. “Plus, he hasn’t packed for Sacramento yet.”

“It’s okay,” Mrs. Park assures him. “We’ll go out with Patricia and Rose.”

Rose crosses her arms, pretending to pout. “I guess the responsible thing to do would be to go home and grade those spelling tests from two weeks ago.”

“Rose . . .” Eli stares. “Two weeks?”

“What? They’re seven, they can wait. Priorities, Eli.”

Peter goes in to give his parents a giant hug. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Umma.”

“See you tomorrow, adeul. Don’t forget, we’re getting breakfast in the morning. Then we’re going to the bridge!”