Page 17 of Embers Glow After the Fire

“Who’s we?” Phoenix rolls off Eli and into the comforter, covering his head.

Eli grasps the blanket before it slips away and exposes him.

“Looking good Eli.” Brendon winks.

The boy’s sun-kissed porcelain cheeks flush as red as his disheveled hair. He tries to cover his neon peach nipples and bare chest with a corner of the blanket.

“We’ll let you boys get dressed. —Meet us outside in five.” Robbie grabs Brendon’s arm and drags him through sliding glass doors to the grassy knoll, laughing and wagging his brows.

Eli joins after a few minutes and Phoenix staggers behind, trying to shield from the morning sun under a lavender zip-up hood and purple aviators. His tiny leopard shorts might as well be underwear.

The morning chill lifts quickly as the sun makes its full appearance into a cloudless blue sky. The hazy humidity hung low in the air and stood no chance against the rising temperature but still clung to everyone's skin as they moved along the trail.

Robbie leads the pack, humming a familiar melody and reciting the chorus line “We’re off to see the wizard. —the wonderful wizard of Oz.”

Brendon giggles.

Phoenix and Eli seem lost.

Robbie twists, walking backward. He points at Eli. “The lion.” Then Phoenix. “Dorothy.” And Brendon. “The scarecrow—but you have a beautiful brain babe. You're the lankiest bitch here—and I’m the heartless tin-man.” He laughs.

“Who’s Dorothy?” Phoenix groans.

Robbie gasps. “The pretty one with curly pigtails and the sparkly shoes…” He’s flabbergasted.

“You’ve never seen The Wizard of Oz?” Brendon is also shocked.

“Queer culture, babes.” Robbie shares wide eyes with Brendon, spinning back, nearly tripping over a jutting tree root. “Apparently we’re having an educational movie night.” He steadies his footing and carries on humming.

They reach the lake and follow its jutting shoreline, past an old weathered dock, cracking and creaking as breezy waves interrupt its tranquil rest. A woodpecker hammers away at a tree somewhere in the trees overhead, drumming a beat for songbirds to entertain and that family of ducks paddle by with curious eyes glued to the adventuring squad.

“Lions and Tigers and—Bears,” Robbie flashes a wink at the group. “Oh my.” His half grin and wagging brow give way to giggles.

Phoenix appears to prefer wallowing in his hangover, rolling his eyes and pouting.

“Don’t make us throw you in the water, Dorothy.” Robbie teases.

Eli’s giggles are cut short when the grumpy crush shoots a scolding glare in his direction.

“Do we have snacks?” Phoenix unzips his cropped hoodie to air out his glistening chest and fans himself with flapping fabric.

Robbie pulls a fistful of protein bars from the fanny pack clipped across his chest. “Dennis and Matty went for donuts and coffee. They’ll be home by the time we get back.” He tosses Phoenix a bar but Eli and Brendon turn down their offers.

The hangry twink tears into the foil wrapper and chomps half the bar in his ravenous mouth. “So Brendo…” he chews the gooey nut cluster with his words. “You seem really into Matty?”

Brendon’s jaw hangs as he searches for a response to the allegation.

The edge of Phoenix’s brow rises and his blue eyes catch a shimmer of sunlight breaking through the tree cover.

“Matthew seems nice, but we don’t know each other.” Brendon deflects.

“Mmm…” Phoenix chomps the second half of the bar and stuffs the wrapper in his pocket. “What about your husband?”

Robbie halts his lead, nearly causing a pileup, and twirls around.

Brendon meets Eli’s panicked eyes.

“You’re married?” Robbie’s face drops when he sees the hurt on Brendon’s face.

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