Room to Spare: A Forced Proximity Gay Romance (The Fixer Upper) by Quinn Ward

Author:Quinn Ward [Ward, Quinn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2025-07-22T00:00:00+00:00

ELEVEN

Maple Hill hummed with the kind of energy that only came from the events that shut down Main Street and turned the downtown area into a big party. The streets were alive with color and music, each corner revealing a new burst of expression. Keaton found himself swept into the vibrant frenzy, a stark contrast to the methodical rhythm of his usual days. It was a welcome change, he decided, taking in the sights and sounds as he strolled alongside Finn, Finn’s teenage daughter Brooklyn, Noah, Eli, and Luke.

The air was rich with the scent of street foods. Keaton absorbed everything—the laughter around him, the excited chatter of passersby, and the warmth of late spring sun on his skin. It was the kind of day that promised possibility, and he couldn’t help but feel a glimmer of anticipation for what lay ahead.

“You sure you’re ready for this?” Luke nudged him playfully, eyes glinting with mischief. “You know, all this unpredictability might just be your undoing.”

Keaton chuckled, his gaze sweeping over the stalls lined with eclectic artworks and handmade crafts. “I’m more adaptable than you think. Plus, I have my secret weapon.”

He couldn’t help but smile, thinking of Jules and their infectious spontaneity. Over the past couple of weeks, they’d been working to get him to quit checking his calendar obsessively, and he found it wasn’t as hard as he thought. Today, he’d happily spend the entire day roaming the Art Crawl just so he could see Jules in their element without hovering over them.

“You really are changing,” Finn observed, giving Keaton a knowing look. Brooklyn tapped him on the shoulder and held out her hand. He sighed as he handed over his credit card, but Keaton knew that was all for show. It was rare he denied his daughter anything she wanted, and everyone knew it. He turned his attention back to Keaton as she wandered over to one of the vendors. “You’ve got that look.”

“What look?” Keaton asked, feigning ignorance.

“The look of a man who’s finally letting go,” Finn replied with a grin, nodding toward the swirl of activity around them. “Or maybe the look of a man who’s head over heels. I haven’t decided which yet, but there’s definitely a look.”

Keaton shrugged, not denying it. There was truth in Finn’s words that resonated deeper than he cared to admit, especially when his thoughts strayed to Jules. Their unpredictable nature, their vibrant spirit. They brought him to life in a way he hadn’t realized he needed.

The group meandered through the crowds, pausing at stalls that caught their interest. Keaton’s mom waved from a nearby installation, her attention split between a trio of sculptures and the mural being painted on the outside of a local gift shop nearby. Her involvement in the community was something Keaton had always respected, but it wasn’t until recently that he started to understand the delicate balancing act she’d maintained, especially when he and Paige were younger.

As they continued along Main Street, to the heart of the Art Crawl, Keaton allowed himself to soak in the moment.

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