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

Most of the nuns wanted to try the flavors first. As they did so, Alexi made genial conversation. The nuns explained that, twice a year, their order went on a sort of field trip to a different place of natural beauty so they could “marvel at the works of God” while also getting a change of scenery. This summer they had come to see Lake Wallenpaupack and decided to get a treat while they were in town. The leader of their group, or at least the one who did the most speaking, was an older white woman who had eyebrows so fine and so close in color to her skin that at first Alexi didn’t think she had any at all. Otherwise she was very friendly and her blue eyes were warm and she apologized for any inconvenience their sudden appearance might have caused.


“It’s alright,” Alexi assured her. “We’re not in danger of running out of ice cream.”


Chapter 30