Page 109 of Boyfriend Material
“Are you suggesting”—it took me a moment to even make my head go there—“that I should become a social media influencer?”
“No, no, I’m just saying you should go on the Instagram and help people like Bronwyn. That’s what we in the business call leveraging your platform.”
“Thanks, but I think I like my platform unleveraged.”
“Well, you do you, as they say.” He stood up, stretched theatrically, walked halfway out the door, then stopped and turned. “By the way, you know how much you and your nice boyfriend enjoyed Bronwyn’s pop-up dining experience?”
I wasn’t sure I liked where this was going. “Yes?”
“Well, I’ve got this mate Gavin from Merthyr Tydfil, and he’s done a series of glass sculptures inspired by the Rising of 1831.”
Now, I definitely didn’t like where this was going, but for some reason I asked a question about it anyway. “The who? The what?”
“That’s so typical of the English. Set the 93rd Highlanders on my countrymen, and then don’t even have the decency to teach it in schools. Anyway”—he paused ominously—“you can learn all about it when you go and get your picture taken at Gavin’s exhibition.”
Call me paranoid, but I was beginning to think Rhys Jones Bowen had an ulterior motive for wanting me on Instagram. I was about to tell him that I had no intention of going to his mate’s glass sculpture show, but I did owe him for the whole vegan rescue, and also…I guess…helping people was nice? Besides, it was probably the sort of thing Oliver would actually be into. “Okay,” I said. “That sounds interesting. Email me the details, and I’ll ask my boyfriend if he’s up for it.”
“Don’t worry, Luc,” Rhys said, nodding. “I completely under—oh right. I’ll be honest, I expected you to say no to that one.”
“Must be Gavin’s lucky day. But I really do have to get back to work.”
“Tell you what, I’ll bring you a coffee.”
I thanked him and went back to silent auction hustling. Well, silent auction hustling and texting Oliver:Want to come with me to an exhibition tonight?
What sort of exhibition?
Funny you should ask that. Glass sculpture. About—it was while typing this that I realised I’d forgotten what Rhys has said it was about, and even if I could remember, I wouldn’t have been able to spell it—something bad that happened in Wales
I’m not sure that narrows it down.
An uprising?
There was a pause. Anyone else would have been Googling, but Oliver was just typing.There’ve been several.
Yes. One of them. Rhys wants me to get some publicity for a friend of his and I said I would because you’ve made me a better person you bastard
My apologies. I didn’t mean to.
It’s fine. You can pay for it by making me look like I understand art
I’d love to, Lucien, but I have to work tonight.
Sorry. Not getting out if that easily. It’s on all week.
I am genuinely keen to go.Of course he was.
Weekend then?
We have Jennifer’s birthday. Followed quickly by: I mean I have Jennifer’s birthday, and you are invited to come but should not feel obligated.Followed quickly by: Of course you’ll be very welcome. They’d like to meet you.
Calm down. How about Friday?
Works for me.
Okay. On to trying to score some premium tickets forHarry Potter and the Cursed Childat a non-exorbitant price. I was beginning to think the box office was never going to get back to me when my phone rang.
“Hello, Luc O’Donnell speaking.”
