Page 40 of The Build-a-Boyfriend Project

“That sounds like their problem,” Eli says to him. “Do you enjoy doing that free labor during your off time?”

“Well . . . no. Who would?”

“Exactly.”

“But it’s just one phone call.”

“In the middle of our date.” Eli feels like he’s talking to a brick wall. Again.

The phone buzzes, this time just once. Peter looks to Eli, as if asking for the permission he has to know he won’t get, picking it up slowly and staring at the message.

“It doesn’t make the other person feel good,” Eli says, “when you’re so caught up in work that you can’t even have fun, or get to know them.”

“I know.”

“It doesn’t seem like it.” Eli doesn’t want to sound mean, but there’s really no other way to get it into Peter’s head.

“I’m sorry.”

“Let me ask you, Peter . . . What is a date?”

“Like the fruit, or the thing that we’re on?”

Eli has to resist the exhausted laugh that wants to slip out. “The thing that we’re on.”

“Two people, or more, I guess, go and spend time together and get to know one another?”

“Yes. And what part of that sentence you just said involves taking work calls and fielding Slack messages?”

Peter pauses, staring at his phone as it buzzes again. “None. I guess I just . . . I guess I’m just so used to working off the clock that it doesn’t bother me.”

“But if your date told you it bothered them, what would you do?”

“I guess . . . I’d stop answering work calls?”

Eli nods. “So, try and ignore your phone for the rest of the night. No more calls, no more Slack messages. Just focus on me, on the night we’re having.”

“Here.” Peter picks up the phone and tries to hand it to Eli. “Keep it for me.”

“No.” Eli leans away from him, his back straight against the cushion of the booth. “You won’t learn anything if I do all the work for you.”

“Are you sure?”

“Do what you have to, put it on mute, or turn the phone off. But you’ve got to make the choice to not let work bother you.”

Eli watches as Peter stares at his phone, another message popping up on the screen. For a brief moment, Eli can see the picture that serves as the background, two older-looking people with their arms wrapped around each other’s waists. Eli has to assume these are Peter’s parents.

“Let me just respond to this, make sure the test went well.” Peter unlocks his phone and types something quickly.

Eli tries to hide his disappointment, but he promises himself that it’s fine.

Rome wasn’t built in a day, he thinks. And twunks can’t be fixed over just a single date. Then where would he get his fake article for Michael?

“Okay.” Peter shows Eli the screen again, holding down the power button until the Apple logo shines on the screen. “The phone is off. I’m done with work.”

“Good!” Eli picks up his menu. “Now are you finally ready to get this date started?”

He watches Peter swallow, his throat bobbing up and down. “Yes, please.”