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

Alexi’s leg bounced. What? they wrote back.


Alexi hovered their thumbs over the keyboard. Then they shifted. Didn’t want to be late for work


And that’s why you were doing a two-step under the table? While Alexi sat in embarrassed silence Pat typed up another message. Did Eli’s ADMIRE turn you on that much? Three seconds later she wrote, *ASMR, stupid autocorrect


There were other things Alexi wanted to talk about, but not over text and not in their car. They also didn’t want to distract Pat if she was going to be busy as soon as she got home. They wrote back, lol,then put their phone away and drove home. Their phone chimed several more times and they dreaded what awaited them when they finally checked it again. They shoved their phone in their pocket as they got out of the car and didn’t look until they were back in their room with the door shut. To their surprise, there were messages from Pat and Eli.


Chapter 11