Page 20 of Embers Glow After the Fire

“Hey.” Brendon’s voice is timid.

“This morning is not a big deal. We all drank too much last night.” He wants to squash the awkward vibe between them.

“I’m really sorry.”

“Don’t be.” Matthew chucks. “I haven’t had a man in my bed in years. It was nice. I slept like a baby.” He winks.

A grin stretches across Brendon’s pink cheeks and his eyes soften but his brow caves again. “I’m sorry about Adam.”

The punch to the gut at hearing his name still hits as hard as ever. He chokes, “Thank you.”

Brendon steps in and wraps his arms around Matthew.

Something about his body pressed close again, causes Matthew to melt. He wraps back, inhaling his flowery scent. Electric static surges through his fingertips and ignites every cell in his body. Heat rises into his chest, past his throat, and tingles his lips. He unfurls his arms and walks back. “Thank you, Brendon. That was nice.” He feels his face burn and ducks into his room.

Brendon’s footsteps descend the stairs.

Matthew scoops his suitcase into both hands and plops it on the bed. Unzipping it and flipping the lid wide open. He buries his hand in a netted pocket to retrieve the little black boxes he’d placed there. Counting to make sure he had all three and trotting back downstairs.

Brendon, Jamie, and Nathan are communing around the doughnut spread. Phoenix and Eli appear to be heading for the lake again.

“C’mere gentlemen.” Matthew ushers Dennis, Robbie, and Perry to the wrap-around sofa. He takes a seat on the edge with his knees touching the large suede ottoman at the center of the half circle. He pinches his crystal in his thumb and index finger and sets the three small black boxes in front of him.

He had prepared words but couldn’t find them and might not be able to get them out anyway. The outpouring of affection this morning already had his chest in a vice. One by one he passes each dear friend a box.

“What's this?” Robbie inquires, staring at the little felt square.

"I had something made for myself," he twirls the quartz pendant in his fingers, and I thought you all might like one too.

Robbie opens his box and lifts out a gold chain with rose quarts crystal hanging from it. Gold wire is wrapped securely to mount the stone into its fixing. His face looks confused but grateful. “They’re beautiful.” He notes each of the trio admiring their own.

“A client at the salon makes these. I commissioned them after having a chat with her one day. We were talking about Adam and his crystal collection. Well—she harvests them. Then carves and polishes them to make jewelry.” He stares into his pendant. “She also includes additives that make them Treasured Memorials—that’s the name of her business.” He kisses the rosy stone. “She put a bit of Adam’s ashes in each one and seals them with resin.” He stammers the words. “I thought you might like a piece of him too.” His eyes blur.

“Matty—“ Dennis chokes.

Perry stands and rounds the ottoman between them. He drops next to Matthew and curls around him. Squeezing the air from his lungs. His long body quakes with the emotion pouring through.

Robbie and Dennis join the huddle.

Jamie wipes his cheeks and chomps off another segment of glazed blueberry doughnut.

Robbie sits back to admire the gift before motioning to Dennis to loop it around his neck.

“Thank you, Matty.” Dennis beams with glistening brown eyes.

Chapter 9

Movie Night

Dennis spent the few hours after dinner cooking, buttering, and seasoning a variety of popped kernels in a kettle over the grill for movie night. Classic savory sea salt, caramel glazed, and even chocolate drizzled.

Robbie and Brendon helped lay out the spread on the plush square ottoman while Matthew, Jamie, and Phoenix mixed and prepared drinks. Hard ciders, beers, pina coladas, and margaritas with canned sodas for Eli.

After the sun set and everyone settled on the sofa, Robbie dimmed the house lights until the blackened glow of the television took center stage.

A lion’s roar leads into the symphonic rise of instruments and sepia tones flood the great room, casting long shadows behind anticipating faces.

Brendon sips his margarita and bumps knuckles with Matthew in the buttery sea-salted popcorn bowl.

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