It was fine. More than fine, actually. It made me feel like I was a part of a community. When I’d lived in Portland, I’d never quite felt that, despite its reputation for being more like a village. Otter Bay was a community. I felt like everyone in that parlor was on my side, even if I didn’t know them very well. People looked out for each other here.
“Coop!” a familiar voice rang out behind us just as Felix opened his mouth to draw a breath. I turned to see Seth tottering over toward us, his glittery heels impressively high today. I would’ve broken my ankle putting them on. “And you brought our mysterious newcomer!”
Felix’s eyes widened as he looked at Seth.
I tightened my grip on his hand and tugged him toward me. Seth could be a little much, and I still didn’t know what was going on in Felix’s head.
Whatever it was, I wanted him to know it’d be okay. I’d make sure it was okay.
“I,” Seth continued, turning to Felix, “am ahugefan.”
I blinked. He was?
“My incredible husband brought me to a performance of The Magic Flute you were in a few Christmases ago,” Seth continued. “I could’ve watched you for another eight hours. I love the way you move and Iadorethe way you made it all look so romantic. You can ask my husband how long I spent talking about it later. You’re incredible. Am I embarrassing you? I’m embarrassing you. Don’t worry, I do this to everyone. Seth, by the way.”
He stuck his hand out in offering. Luckily, I was holding Felix’s left hand, so I didn’t have to let go for them to shake.
“Felix,” Felix said. The look on his face had changed, the wariness replaced by what I was fairly sure was confusion.
I got the impression Seth normally had that effect on people. I’d felt the same way when I met him for the first time.
Seth’s gaze flicked to our joined hands, then to me, brow raised and lips curving into a smile. “And I see you’ve already picked out our newest eligible bachelor,” he said, eyes sparkling as he looked over both of us. “Good for you, someone was bound to snatch him up sooner rather than later. Are we going in? Wes will kill me if I’m any later than I already am, I promised I’d help out tonight but the council meeting ran over. You know they’ve got me on the town council, now?”
“I did not know that,” I said as Seth looped his arm through Felix’s free one, dragging us both toward the ice cream parlor.
“I don’t even remember being voted in,” Seth said. “But it’s not all bad. I love this little town. I want to help.”
I didn’t know Seth very well, but everything I’d heard about him suggested he had more in common with a tidal wave or a hurricane than anything. He’d shown up at the shop on my first day to welcome me, coffee in hand and the promise that if I needed anything, I could ask him. If he couldn’t make it happen himself, he’d said, he’d know who could. He’d told me people looked after each other here.
So far I hadn’t been game to take anyone up on that, but I believed it. I’d seen it with my own eyes.
Since then, I’d learned he was like that with everyone, and he meant it. He loved people, and he loved being everyone’s friend. Seth wanted to help. He was one of the most genuine people I’d ever known.
“I wouldloveto introduce you to absolutely everyone here,” Seth said, voice raised as we stepped into Melting, the conversation and laughter so loud inside that it was hard to hear him over it. “But I have a best friend to help. It was so good to meet you, Felix. I think you’ll be safe enough in what I imagine to be theverycapable hands of our sexiest mechanic,” he finished with another up-and-down look at me and a theatrical wink. “Try the yuzu and smoked chili sorbet. Trust me.”
With that parting piece of wisdom, he slipped into the crowd and vanished.
Felix stared at me. I shrugged.
“That’s Seth,” I said. “He’s one of a kind.”
Felix nodded slowly, peering into the crowd after him. “I think he and Avery would either claw each other’s eyes out in the first five minutes, or take over the world in ten.”
I laughed at that. “Might be a better place for it.”
“There’d definitely be more glitter,” Felix said. He looked down at our still-joined hands, then up at my face again. “Everyone’s gonna know.”
“Within the hour, yeah,” I agreed, lips twitching. I didn’t hate that thought at all. “Is that okay? Because I can tell everyone we’re here as friends.”
“I…” Felix looked around the crowd—none of whom were paying us all that much attention. “Think I’ve figured something out. It’s fine. Tell you later.”
I squeezed his fingers in acknowledgement. Maybe he would tell me later, maybe he wouldn’t. As long as he was okay with how things were right now, I didn’t care.
“Let’s order?” I suggested, for lack of better ideas. It was too loud in here to talk. “And then maybe head outside? Warm enough tonight.”
Felix nodded, gratitude in his eyes. “Let’s order.”
13
