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

“Alright, clearly you’re in some kind of emotional distress, so let’s hear it.”


Alexi was almost done chewing their mouthful but they kept going until they could process that statement. “Wow, no foreplay whatsoever? Not even a ‘So how’ve you been?’ Just gonna skip right to the dirty stuff?”


Pat snorted. “Wouldn’t be the first time. And I know if I let you get distracted you’re going to get me distracted and we’ll never talk about whatever had you suggesting we need to chat. Either you’re breaking up with me again or you’ve got something on your chest you absolutely refuse to talk to your dad about.” She paused. “Which is most things, yeah, but if it was important you’d probably talk to him…Unless this is about him?”


“Ehh…” Alexi stalled by nipping a bit of tomato that was sticking up out of their hoagie. “It’s…a lot.”


Chapter 25