Tourist season at Lake Wallenpaupack means a break in the monotony of Alexi’s life. They’ve been secretly advertising the ice cream parlor they work at through the Foodspotting app, hoping that will bring even more customers. One such customer is Eli, a recent addition to the area with a bright and open disposition that Alexi is drawn to immediately. And since Eli is demisexual, Alexi welcomes him into their friend group of other queer twenty-somethings.<br><br>The more Alexi gets to know Eli, the more smitten they are. If only they didn’t have crippling self-esteem issues, problems at home with their dad, and enough emotional baggage to fill a freight train. They’re desperate to get out of that rut so they can have space in their heart for someone like Eli. After years of playing a passive role, making the first steps towards change might prove too much for them.

#IceCreamSundae

Instead, Mr. Petrakis went on about the royal baby. “If this baby’s dirty diapers end up making headlines, there’s no hope for the world,” he grumbled. “People get all riled up over someone else’s baby just because the parents are famous. The kid could grow up to be terrible! I mean look at you! Not saying you’re terrible, but when you were born, we never knew you’d turn out like this! All these people excited for a prince, but what if one day the kid says ‘I’d rather be a princess’? Imagine the scandal then!”


“I would hope that, by that time, queer and trans identities will be more widely accepted,” Alexi said. They were hoping they could find a way out of this conversation so they could go back to their room and get some work done, but at the same time it was best to keep an eye on their dad until they could park him in front of the TV or somewhere else that he could occupy himself until the high wore off.


Chapter 3