Page 27 of Embers Glow After the Fire

Robbie’s grin glows. “Perfect.”

“Thank you so much!” Brendon is grateful to both the hagglers. “Do you take cards?”

“All forms of payment are good here darlin.” She flashes her obvious I’m an ally wink.

Robbie pulls a fifty dollar bill from his wallet. “Just charge $75 to his card.”

“Robbie—“

“Shush!” He leans into Brendon’s ear. “This jacket is worth three times the whole deal.” He giggles. “Let’s go pick up that cake.”

The pair proudly strut out to the Yukon with their finds.

***

“I’ll run in and grab the cake. Hang back here so we can keep the AC running?” Robbie slips out of the SUV and jogs up the porch steps, into Billie’s Country Store.

Brendon fiddles with the stereo system until a familiar song about a girl named Lucky “who cries cries cries through her broken heart” plays throughout the cab. He can see Robbie chatting with someone out of frame through a large picture window.

There are two other cars parked in the lot. An old Subaru like his own but red, off to the side of the building. He assumes it belongs to Billie and Meagan because, lesbians. Then another large SUV with Massachusetts plates. He lays his head back against the seat and stares up at the sky. The sun's golden light soaks through his eyelids.

After some time, Robbie and Meagan emerge. He has a large cake box in his hands and she follows with two paper bags hugged to her chest. They load the goods into the trunk and he thanks her for the amazing job she's done before he climbs back into the driver’s seat and starts the engine.

“She did such a great job!” He cheers. “And some tourist was chatting with me.” He glows. “I invited him and his husband to our party. They can't make it, but will be at the fireworks gathering.”

“Just making friends everywhere you go.” Brendon laughs. Robbie is a light people are attracted to.

“I can’t help it,” Robbie says and grins as they drive off.

Chapter 12

Lost Treasure

“I can’t believe I lost it!” Matthew’s heart has been racing since his fingers discovered the precious piece of Adam is missing. “And of all the days!”

“We’ll find it.” Dennis’ certainty should feel assuring.

Phoenix and Eli lazily stroll the path feigning investment in the mission.

Perry scans the soil through reading glasses ahead of his steps.

Dennis hunts as desperately as Matthew. He wades into the water with bare toes sifting through the lakebed muck.

“We’ll never find it here.” Matthew reasons. “God—I hope it's not lost in the lake.”

“What on earth were you two doing down here at midnight? It must have been pitch black?” Perry paces the beach.

“Tequila-induced stupidity.” Matthew sloshes onto the shore. Turning back to help Dennis step out of the sludge. “I made the moves on poor Brendon,” he confesses.

Dennis snorts. “Good for you.” He squeezes Matthews's shoulder.

“Luckily one of us was sober enough to keep their wits about them.”

“Aww.” Dennis sneers his disappointment. “Brendon is a doll.”

“He is.” Matthew leans over the mossy log bench, checking every crevice that's already been checked twice. “The last thing either of us needs is a frivolous fling.”

“Or, maybe you both do!” Dennis adds.

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