Phoenix
Any other year, Phoenix wouldn’t have given the Harvest Festival a second thought. So many people, all crowded together in the court square to eat overpriced food—it was definitely something he could do without, even if the proceeds all went to charity. This year, though, he found himself parked a block away, with Lucy in the passenger seat. He’d taken his anxiety medication, in hopes that he wouldn’t be overwhelmed. Now all he could do was hope it worked.
Ace hadn’t tried to pressure him into coming. In fact, when Phoenix had turned him down, he had understood. Too many people, too many sensations. But Phoenix had seen the disappointment in his eyes, and he wanted to do something normal for once. To be someone normal.
Climbing out of his car, he held tight to Lucy’s leash and steadied himself. He took a deep breath before he started walking in the direction of the crowd.
The banner at the front of the square proclaimed the 110th Harvest Festival. That may have been true, but Phoenix was fairly sure they hadn’t had fidget spinners or cotton candy at the first festival. Today, vendors lined up to sell those, along with a number of other foods and kitschy gifts. People stood in long lines for deep fried oreos or popcorn on a stick.
His heart beat just a little faster as he realized the sheer size of the crowd. Every now and again, someone would cut across his path, forcing him to stop quickly. His hand tightened on Lucy’s leash. She must have sensed that something was wrong, because she pressed against his thigh.
A tap on his shoulder sent him wheeling around, and his heart hammered in his chest as he saw Sam and Ben, holding hands.
“Sorry,” Sam said, sheepishly. “I tried saying your name, but you didn’t hear me.”
No, he’d been too focused on the sheer number of people around him. He let out a slow breath as he realized he was with friends now.
“It’s okay. I’m glad you found me. How long have you been here?”
“Just got here,” Ben answered. “I’m surprised you are, though. You hate the Harvest Festival.”
“It isn’t the festival,” Phoenix protested weakly. “It’s just the people that come with the festival. And all the smells, and the noise.”
“So… the entire festival.”
Phoenix felt his cheeks heat. “Maybe.”
“Why force yourself out here, then?” Sam asked.
The question only made him flush more. “Ace invited me, and I didn’t want to let him down.”
Ben raised an eyebrow. “Things are that serious, are they?”
“I don’t understand.”
“You’re holding out Joel for the gallery because you don’t want to have an opening reception, but you would brave the Harvest Festival for Ace?”
Guilt twisted in the pit of his stomach. He hadn’t thought about it like that, even if it was true. “I just… I really like Ace, and I don’t want him to regret dating me.”
“I know. I’m not angry with you. I’m just saying, he must mean a lot to you,” Ben assured him.
“Oh. He does.” Enough that Phoenix thought himself in love. But he couldn’t tell Ace that. Couldn’t even tell Sam and Ben. They had taken long enough to sort through their feelings. They wouldn’t understand how he could know so soon that he loved Ace.
“Do you want to find him together?” Sam asked. “That way you don’t have to go alone.”
Phoenix took one look at the crowd, then looked back to Sam and Ben. “Yes, please.”
They headed off, the three of them—plus Lucy—forming a wall. It worked like magic. The crowd seemed to move for them. No one bumped into Phoenix or got too close. Phoenix was grateful for that. He didn’t think he could have stood it.
It took a few minutes, but eventually, Sam spotted Ace.
“There,” he said. He pointed to a lamp post, where Ace was perched, taking pictures.
Wading through the crowd, they made their way over to him. Ace didn’t notice them at first, his gaze intent on the crowd. How he stood something like this, Phoenix had no idea. The same way he stood living in Boston, or any other city, he supposed. Maybe he actually liked the hustle and bustle. Aside from the Harvest Festival, he wasn’t going to find that here.
Ben nudged him, and Phoenix took a step forward. “Hey.”
Ace hopped down from his place. “Hey, you.”
He took a step forward, no doubt to give Phoenix a hug, but with so many people around, he didn’t think he could handle a hug, even from Ace. Instead, he took a step back, bumping into someone in the process.
“Sorry. I’m sorry. I didn’t—”
No, this wasn’t a good idea after all. He didn’t know what he had been thinking, coming here. Panic welled, even though he’d taken his medicine. Sensing his distress, Lucy pressed against his side, nudging her head against his thigh.
Ace gripped his arm gently. “Listen to me. It’s okay. I should have known better.”
Phoenix couldn’t bring himself to look at Ace, but he could feel his gaze on him. His eyes would be kind and patient, the way they always were. He let out a slow breath and nodded.
“Do you want to introduce me to your friends?” Ace asked.
“Oh. Right.” His cheeks flushed. “Ace, this is Ben and Sam. Ben graduated with me, and Sam works at the Press Room.”
“You work with Faith, then?”
Sam nodded. “Have for the past few years. You know her?”
“Her cousin and I used to be best friends. Small world.”
“Even smaller when you live in Wilmingson,” Sam teased.
“Don’t I know it.”
Phoenix flinched at the words. He wanted to believe Ace didn’t mean it in a negative way, but Ace was so adamant about leaving and going back to the city that he really didn’t know.
“How long have you been here?” Ben asked.
“Here the festival, or here in town?”
“Both, I guess.”
“I’ve been at the festival since about ten this morning. In town for a couple of months.”
“Want to grab lunch? Sam and I were going to head over to Old Luke’s stand for lobster rolls.”
The mention of lobster rolls made Phoenix’s mouth water. Old Luke did hot lobster rolls, instead of cold ones, and they were one of the best things he’d ever eaten.
“Old Luke’s still around?” Ace asked. “He must be what, eighty?”
Ben nodded. “His son, does most of the work now, but he keeps an eye on the kitchen to make sure everything’s running okay.”
They started walking toward the stand, weaving through the crowd the way they had before. A hand crept down the inside of his wrist, and Phoenix jumped before he realized it was Ace’s. He linked their fingers and allowed himself to be guided. It was harder to stand in the way of a wall of muscle than someone like him.
There were a few open tables at Old Luke’s stand, so Sam grabbed one while the rest of them ordered. Once they were seated, Phoenix dug in. The lobster was sweet and tender, and everything he had been craving. He devoured half his roll before looking up.
“Glad to see you’re enjoying it,” Ace murmured. “I didn’t know if you’d come.”
“I wasn’t either,” he admitted. “But I wanted to do something… normal for once.”
Something that wouldn’t make Ace regret his decision to get involved with someone like him.
“You don’t have to do things just for my sake. I’m working, anyway. But it means a lot to me that you did.”
Leaning over, Ace pressed a kiss to his cheek.
“Is that Ace Sherridan I spy?” A shrill voice rang out, and Phoenix froze. Dear god, let it be anyone but her.
As he turned around, his fears were confirmed. Lucretia Simpson, long-established town gossip, was striding through the crowd, headed their way. She’d dyed her hair darker since he’d seen her last—no doubt to hide the grey that would have otherwise shown through—and her lipstick was such a bright shade of red that it could have signaled traffic.
Phoenix scooted just the tiniest bit away from Ace as she approached.
“Well I’ll be. It is you! I thought I recognized that hair of yours. Your mother had the same hair, bless her.”
Beside him, Ace tensed, and Phoenix slid a comforting hand along his knee.
“I didn’t get a chance to tell you when you were in for the funeral, but I’m sorry to hear about your daddy. I would have said something but you were in and gone again, just like that.”
She clapped her hands loudly, and Phoenix jumped. Even Lucy startled, scrambling to her feet. Phoenix soothed her with a few strokes.
“So what brings you back into town, then? Decide you missed home after all?”
“Something like that.” Phoenix didn’t really read people well, but even he could tell that Ace was having a hard time smiling.
“I knew you would, sooner or later. You kids run off to the city with all your big dreams, but you come back eventually.”
A shout drew Lucretia’s attention away from them, and she waved at a greying woman over near Nate’s Roasted Corn on the Cob.
“I better get going. So nice to see you.” She reached over and patted Ace’s cheek, before gliding away.
Phoenix’s stomach twisted uncomfortably, and he regretted the lobster roll. Even if he didn’t want to admit it, Lucretia had a point. Ace had come back because he’d lost his job. Not because he wanted to. When he found another one—and it was only a matter of when—he would leave. Phoenix couldn’t even blame him.
“Well, that was a…” Ben pursed his lips. “Yeah, I don’t even have words for what that was. I had forgotten how bad she could be.”
“You should have heard what she had to say when she found out we were dating,” Sam added.
That didn’t help matters. If she found out that Ace was dating him, no doubt she would have something to say about it. He sighed, looking at his hands. It had been a mistake to come here. A mistake to think he could try to be normal, even for Ace.
“Let her talk.” Ace’s words were firm. “She’s always been an old shrew. I doubt she’ll change now.”
Ben laughed. “Well said. Listen, Sam and I are having a little Thanksgiving dinner if you want to join us. It’s really casual, potluck style, so bring a dish if you can. If not, booze is always acceptable.”
Phoenix looked at them warily. “How little is little?”
“Faith, Peter, and a couple of others. Ten people, tops.”
“What do you think?” Phoenix could feel Ace’s gaze on him.
He could very easily say no. It would be too difficult. But Ace didn’t have anyone else to spend Thanksgiving with, and it would keep him away from his parents, who would doubtless be insufferable. Not to mention, it would give him another chance to prove to Ace that he could be worth his time.
He forced a smile. “Just let me know what time.”