Boyfriend Material

love you too, Luc. Now go get your man.”
“At three a.m.? How will that help?”
“It’s romantic. You’re chasing after him in the rain.”
“It’s not raining.”
“Don’t ruin this for me.”

“Well, isn’t this cosy.” Alex beamed at me. “Would you like anything while we wait for the ladies? I mean, my lady and your boylady.”

Oh hello, rock bottom. Nice to see you again. Do you want to be my boyfriend?

“I always thought”—Oliver drew me in closer—“my previous relationships failed because I wasn’t trying hard enough. But I suspect you were right and I was trying too hard. It felt safe to let my guard down with you because I could tell myself it wasn’t real. But now it is and…well…I’m coming to the conclusion I might be unbelievably terrified.”

“Seen me. Stood up for me. Fought to keep me.”

He stirred nervously at my side. “I’m conscious this could be rather burdensome to hear, but you remain the thing I have most chosen for myself. The thing that’s most exclusively mine. The one that brings me the deepest joy.”

I kissed him. Or he kissed me. I couldn’t tell who’d started it. But it didn’t matter. All that mattered was that we were kissing. I missed you kisses. And I want you kisses. And we’re better together kisses. And kisses that felt like sorry. And kisses that felt like promises. And kisses that could be tomorrow and the next day and the next.

“Then”—he gave me this amazing look, all dignity and vulnerability mushed up together—“I’m in love with you, Lucien. But it seems hardly adequate.”

He nodded, somewhat abashed.

“Of course I fucking love you. That’s why I turned up on your doorstep and made a complete idiot of myself. Again.”

“I’m being cowardly again. What I really wanted to ask is…did you mean it when you said you…you know.”