Boyfriend Material (London Calling, #1)

by Alexis Hall

“Do you really think I have nothing better to do with my time than web-stalk the e-list children of c-list celebrities?” “Again, with the…mean comforting. What the hell is that about?” “I, well, I wasn’t sure you’d accept any other kind.” He looked slightly abashed, chasing a blueberry round and round his plate. Honestly, he might have been right. But I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of admitting it. “Try me.” “I’m not going to make you any promises because that just gives all this nonsense more power over you. But—” “It’s easy for you to call it nonsense. You don’t live with it.” He gave an exasperated little huff. “See. I said you wouldn’t want my reassurance.” “You haven’t given me any reassurance. You’ve told me you aren’t going to make any promises and dicked on my pain.” “It wasn’t my intent to dick.” We eyed each other warily over the battlefield of our breakfast foods. In many ways, our second date was going as badly as our first. Hell, in many ways it was going worse, since I’d arrived six hours late and been dumped before I got there. But it felt different. Somehow even being annoyed with him brought with it this strange warmth. “Anyway,” Oliver went on, “you didn’t let me finish.” “And I’m usually so considerate in that regard.” Up went that brow of his. “Good to know.” And, for some reason, I blushed. He gave a little cough. “As I was saying, I recognise that the penumbra of public commentary is significant to you and has affected your life. But it i...