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

Then Eli came into Duckworth’s out of the blue. Alexi was working on a family’s order when he walked in. Ophelia took his order, but Alexi listened in. Eli didn’t seem alright. His shoulders were drooped and his voice lacked its usual bright tone.


“Um, can I get a scoop of Strawberry and a scoop of Maple Cookie Crunch? With chocolate sprinkles and whipped cream?”


Alexi nearly let go of the cone they were working on.


Ophelia leaned over to check the display. “Uh…we don’t have Maple Cookie Crunch this week.”


“We have Snickerdoodle,” Alexi chimed in. They hastily finished tapping down the ice cream firmly onto the cone and handed it to its recipient with a smile. “It’s not the same as Maple Cookie, but it does have cinnamon dough chunks in it so…there’s that.”


Eli looked at them with weary eyes. Alexi knew something had to be wrong. He smiled, but it didn’t light up his face the way it usually did. “Thank you, yeah, that sounds good.”


Chapter 21