Page 19 of The Great Maple Mistake

Good. Chatting is good. It’s an excellent distraction. Now I just have to get my brain online. “Yeah. Born and raised here.”

“You never wanted to live anywhere else?”

I shake my head. “Nope. I went to college in Burlington. That was far enough away for me. I like living in Maplewood. Everyone knows me. Knows my story. Knows my family. We have our difficulties, but what I’d gain in variety and maybe new experiences living somewhere else, I’d lose in being able to be one hundred percent myself. It’s amazing being queer and living in a queercentric town. No one looks at me funny or has a problem with who I am. People here are so aware, that we don’t even ask each other the heteronormative questions about relationships, like ‘when are you getting married?’ or ‘when are you having kids?’ We all just accept that people will love who they love and will know what’s best for them in their relationships.”

Cody nods, but he looks a little confused. “Is it bad to want to get married? I mean, yeah, I’m pan, so I could end up with anyone. That doesn’t mean I shouldn’t get married if my partner and I both want to.”

“Agreed.” I nod quickly. “That’s not what I meant. Sorry. I just meant that everyone here tends to operate with the assumption that each relationship will be whatever the people in it want it to be, without judgment. Take Rory Kelly, for example. He’s in a committed relationship with Adrian Gates and Zack Reed. Everyone in Maplewood just rolled with it, even though poly relationships are only a small percentage of our population. But it’s what works for the three of them, so it works for the rest of us.” I shrug. “Guess that’s my long-winded way of saying I like living in a relatively judgment-free zone when it comes to sexuality, gender, and expectations.”

Cody spears a broccoli floret. “Yeah, I can see how that would be really hard to give up.”

“Plus, my immediate family is here. And even though my mom and dad are divorced, we’re all still really close. We’re even close with my stepdad, Rob.”

“That’s really great that your parents can stay friendly after a divorce.”

I shrug. “They got married right out of college and were together for almost twenty-five years. People change. They grow. And sometimes that doesn’t happen in the same direction. But they still like each other. They stillloveeach other. They just aren’tinlove with each other anymore.”

“Still, it couldn’t have been easy for your dad when your mom got remarried.”

I shake my head. “See, that’s where you’re wrong. My dad actually gave my mom away at her wedding to Rob.Theythought it was hilarious, like ‘Here, she’s yours now.’ Luke and I saw the humor, but not to the extent that they did.”

“And your dad isn’t with anyone right now?”

I turn and face Cody, suppressing a grin. “Why? Areyouinterested?”

His cheeks turn bright pink, but he’s grinning. “No. And I could have said that better. I just meant that it could be difficult, being the solo one after a breakup, when your ex and their new partner live in the same town.”

My shoulders sag, and I rest my elbows on the table. “Yeah, he seems okay with it. He says he is. Though I wish he’d find someone. But it’s like he’s not even looking anymore. And before you say anything, no, he’s not still hung up on Mom.” I roll my eyes. “He’s just damned picky. Then again, I guess that’s genetic, because Luke and I could also be called picky.”

“That so?” Cody’s lips twitch like he’s fighting a smirk.

I nod. “Yeah.Verypicky.”

He rips his dinner roll apart and mops up the leftover gravy with it. Before he pops it into his mouth, he asks another question. “So, why is that? What is it that attracts you to someone? What do you look for in a person?”

I absolutely love that he’s not assuming gender. “Well, the first thing I notice about someone is their eyes.” I slip a fry into my mouth and smile at him. “I’m a sucker for beautiful blue eyes.” That makes his heart rate quicken. I know because I can see the vein pulsing in his neck. Damn, that’s really sexy. “But I’m attracted sexually and romantically to men. I love a square jaw and a broad chest. Buff arms are always a yes.” I let my gaze roam over his very muscular, very manly chest. “I usually go for guys who are bigger than me, though at five feet, eight inches, that’s not all that difficult.” I hold his gaze. “Butmostimportantly, they need to be kind. And I don’t mean a doormat. They need to have empathy and be able to see things from someone else’s point of view, especially if that person is different from them.” Knowing full well that this describes everything I’ve heard about and experienced while being around Cody, I’m not worried that I’m setting an impossible expectation. “After that, it’s all a bonus.” I eat the last bite of my burger and shove the remaining fries in Cody’s direction. “So what about you? What do you look for in a person?”

He reaches for a fry. “Definitely kindness. And an upbeat personality. I like people who look at the positives of a situation. Not that they ignore the negatives, but that isn’t where they focus. You know?” I nod because I do know. He means a glass-half-full person, and I like to think that describes me. “But I also appreciate someone who can see the negatives or, well, not necessarily the worst in people, but—” He shrugs one shoulder. “Look, I know I’m probably too quick to think the best of people. That’s not a bad thing. But it burned me in the past. I think Ineed someone who can see that other side of people, and point it out, because that’s not where my brain goes.”

“I think that’s a wonderful way to be, though.” I put my hand over his. “It’s very kind.”

“Some would call it naïve.”

I get the impression somehavecalled him naïve. And maybe he is, but I don’t think so. “Some would be wrong, at least in your case. You’ve just said you’re aware that people take advantage of your good opinion. That’s not something a naïve person would say.”

“No, but maybe a fool?”

“Absolutely not!” I lace our fingers together and look Cody in the eyes. “You are a gentle soul. And just because you think the best of everyone doesn’t make you gullible. It makes you…” I try to choose the right words, knowing it’s vitally important right now. “It makes you incredibly rare and precious. We need more people who think the best of others.”

He ducks his head, but I see the smile. “Thanks, Alex. That’s very kind of you to say.”

“You’re welcome.” I squeeze his hand and try to figure out how to get him back on topic. Because it hasn’t escaped my notice that he’s avoided describing who he’s attracted to, physically. “So you’re into nice but cautious people.” He nods. “Anynice but cautious people?”

Much to my frustration, he only nods. “Yeah.”

“That’s… rather vague.”

“Yeah, but see, I don’t have a type. Not a physical one.”

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