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“You haven’t been here a week and now you’re helping with a school play?” I nearly laughed at the ridiculousness of the situation. “And now you’re dating the resident handyman. My fake life is doing better than my real one.”

Standing outside the bakery, I had no idea what to do with the rest of my day.

For a weekend, I expected the hustle and bustle of people making the most of their afternoon, but Firefly moved at a slower pace.

I wanted to see some of that small-town charm.

If I waited a little while, would they have a spontaneous chili cook-off or a flash mob?

As if on cue, music filled the air.

“Okay, now that’s creepy.”

From somewhere in the park, an ensemble filled the town center with jazz.

I guess if I was going to hide away in a small town, I might as well take in the little moments.

Wandering my way across the street, I followed the path.

It wasn’t a large town square, but it fit Firefly.

Maybe the size of a football field, with a water fountain at the top, surrounded by flowers yet to bloom.

As I walked further down, a group of teens stood with their instruments at the ready as the conductor paused their performance.

I paused, missing the background music during my stroll.

After playing the role of a bootlegger, I never thought I’d want to hear jazz again, but it had grown on me.

I resumed my walk as their music started.

I assumed it’d be too chilly for people to be sitting in the park, but there were plenty of people scattered about. A few women were in their gardening clothes, prepping flower beds. They stopped long enough to wave, their gloves covered in mulch stains.

“They’ll look beautiful,” I said, but my words were drowned out by a saxophone solo. Instead, one woman gave me a thumbs-up and went back to work.

I slowed my walk as I spotted a trio of men sitting at a stone table. One of them waved me over. I gestured to myself, unsure if they meant me. He pointed and then pointed at the table. Both of his companions glanced in my direction, waving me over. Now, it’d be rude to say no and keep walking.

“When in Firefly,” I mumbled.

As I approached, I could see the three of them holding cards. Unlike me, they wore wool knit sweaters and caps, seemingly unbothered by the cold. If I were playing cards, I’d need gloves to keep my fingers from freezing. I was wondering what northerners endured to consider this good weather.

“You’re him!” The man in red plaid gestured to the stone bench opposite him. I had nothing else going on today, so why not stop and enjoy watching the elders of the town play a game of poker?

“I am!” I shrugged before taking my seat. Might as well lean into it. “Who am I?”

“The new guy,” his friend said. He wore a dark gray flat cap and answered as if it summarized everything they needed to know. “If you haven’t figured it out, Firefly has boundary issues.”

“Harvey, leave the poor man alone.”

“Wait.” My eyes narrowed. “Why am I picturing you with a Viking helmet?”

“Now, who’s famous?” He pounded his chest. “Abraham the Great!”

Harvey and his friend rolled their eyes. “Abraham the something, all right.”

“I was in the Viking helmet at Jason’s convention. We’re the old guys he let play Mutants & Mayhem. Boy, was that ever a bad idea. I swear I didn’t mean to kill them all.”

“And I quote, ‘I’m going to make you cry for your mom,’ then you laughed like a madman,” Harvey said.

“He thought his weather powers were a match for my supersonic speed.” What had Jason done to the town? I knew they all gathered behind him and made the impossible happen, but to hear grown men still talking about it? This would be his legacy.

The third man held out his hand. “Walter.”

“Chris.”

He shot me a wink. “Trust me, we know. I haven’t heard the ol’ biddies at the phone tree talking about somebody since…” He trailed off, his face scrunched up.

“That moose attacked that hunter’s truck.”

All three laughed. Walter’s graying bushy mustache hid his mouth, making the laughter even more comical. “Hunter is a generous term,” he said. “City boys thinking they’re going to get their first deer.”

They all turned to me. “Don’t look at me! I know the difference between a deer and a moose.”

Abraham gathered the cards and started shuffling. “And now, so does he!” I couldn’t help but laugh with them. They weren’t hostile to outsiders, but they had no problem poking fun at their misconceptions. Maybe they weren’t as defensive of their town as I first thought.

“What brings you to town?” Harvey pulled off his cap, smoothing back his gray hair—what little he had—and situated it back on his head.

“I have a feeling you already know.”

He patted me on the shoulder. “Of course we do. But we’ll pretend you’re not the talk of the town.”

I could have explained hiding away from the media. Instead, I threw caution to the wind and prepared for judging sideways glances. “I’m here visiting somebody.”

“You can say Bobby’s name,” Harvey said with a wiggle of his white eyebrows. Somebody kicked him under the stone table. “What? Are we still pretending we don’t know his business?”

I shook my head. “Yeah, Bobby. We met when I was here for the convention. He convinced me to visit.”

“How are you liking it, city boy?” Abraham’s voice gave away nothing. He dealt cards, including to me. While the other two were jovial, he remained hard to read, which is saying something for a man who murdered a bunch of schoolchildren.

“It’s quiet.”

“Boring,” Harvey said.

“Refreshing,” I corrected. “I haven’t been this relaxed in a while.”

“I see you’ve been to Twice-Told Tales,” Abraham said. “How many jackets did she make you try on before letting you leave?”

“Three,” I said, picking up my cards.

“She let him off easy,” Walter grumbled. “Don’t worry, she’ll get you again before you leave. She always does.”

They picked up their cards, and I followed their lead.

Classic five-card poker—I had played my fair share.

I eyed the three men, trying to read their faces.

Harvey’s eyes narrowed as he grimaced. He wasn’t a threat.

Walter, on the other hand, did everything but whistle his appreciation.

With a quick upturn of his lip, I spotted his tell.

He put on a show—no worries from him. Then there was Abraham, whose face didn’t give away anything.

“Two.” I tossed a couple of cards on the table.

“So, what’s this thing with Bobby?” Abraham asked. I couldn’t tell if the question was a clever ruse to give away my hand. “Sounds pretty serious.”

It might be serious, but not in the way they expected. I wished I had talked to Bobby about how far he wanted me to take this. At the end of this, I’d pack my bags and leave Firefly, and he’d be left to deal with the fallout. Would it impact his life? His job?

“I don’t want to jinx it,” I said. It wasn’t quite a lie. “Things are going well between us. I’d like to keep it that way.”

“Have you met his old man?” Walter asked. “That man is crazy.”

“Crazy?” Harvey snorted. “I heard he once went into the woods and wrestled a bear.”

“It wasn’t a real bear,” Walter said. “He was wrestling Jason, and it was for charity.”

“I said what I said,” Harvey replied. “He wrestled a bear!”

Walter smacked his forehead. “Though I’m sure Jason is an expert bear wrangler these days. I mean, have you seen Simon?”

I nearly choked at the man’s sexual innuendo.

Firefly gossiped, I got that. Simon assured me the town accepted its own, but this was…

insanity. Not even in the city did I expect a group of men to be this open.

While they jested, their words were laced with empathy and caring.

I could see why somebody would want this in their life.

“I haven’t met his dad yet,” I admitted.

Abraham handed us cards, and it was time to show our hands. I dropped my three aces. Both Harvey and Walter threw down their hands, grumbling. I turned my gaze to Abraham, who had been silent while the others joked. He locked eyes with me as he lowered his cards.

“Straight flush.”

The other two hooted and hollered at my defeat. I might have lost, but their reaction made me chuckle. They were the characters I expected in this town.

Now that they had brought up Bobby’s dad, I had questions.

How could I be fearful of a man who raised such a sweet guy?

The thought of Simon in a wrestling match left me with a smile.

They had planted the seeds of doubt, and even if we weren’t really dating, I suspected I’d be meeting the man eventually.

“Should I be worried about Bobby’s dad?”

When Harvey and Walter grew silent, my stomach tightened. The pair of jokesters stared at Abraham. When I turned to the former Viking, the hair on the back of my neck stood on end.

Abraham held out his hand. “Hi.” His lip turned up, the smirk more devious than endearing. “I hear you’re dating my son.”

They set me up.

I debated running, bolting for the mountains in hopes he couldn’t track me down.

What were the chances I’d stumble onto Bobby’s family?

I reached out, ready for him to crush my sweaty hand or make a threat.

A single up and down before letting go. “This is where I’d normally say if you get her pregnant, you better put a ring on his finger. ”

“I don’t think that’s how it works,” Harvey said.

“One gay man hits on you, and now you’re an expert?” Walter shook his head. “He was just asking for directions!”

“You make my son smile.” I did? What had Bobby told his father about me? I thought I was the only one playing out our imaginary relationship. Maybe Bobby had an ulterior motive? I was both worried and excited. The thought of making Abraham’s son happy made my heart race. “Keep making him smile.”

It wasn’t a threat. He struggled to hide the smile. Dad was genuinely happy for his son. It both warmed and broke my heart. I think I needed to talk to Bobby and see exactly what was happening… or not happening with this relationship.

“I’ll do my best.” The more I thought about it, the more I wanted the statement to be true.

“Does he call you dad?” Harvey asked.

“I think he calls him daddy,” Walter said.

I snorted, trying hard not to choke over Walter’s suggestion. “You don’t own enough leather for that.”

Abraham leaned forward, face still as ice. “Says you.”

Everybody laughed, and Abraham gathered the cards. Whatever awkwardness might have occurred vanished as he shuffled. A moment later, he was dealing me in again. Not only had I acquired a fake boyfriend, but now I had fake in-laws. As long as we focused on the cards, I’d be all right.

“When are you coming over for dinner?”

I tried maintaining my poker face despite the nerves. I imagined a rifle hanging on the mantle and him caressing the stock while asking me about my intentions. No, no, put the fear aside and play it cool. “Soon as I get the invite.”

“Consider yourself invited.”

I needed to talk to Bobby before his father gave his blessing for a proposal. I needed to bow out gracefully. “As much as I’d like to stay, I need to stop by the house before swinging by the school. But I’m holding you to that invite, Abraham.”