Page 29 of Embers Glow After the Fire

“Ahh… Eli is the rebound.” Matthew chuckles.

“Since Brendon has his eyes on someone else this week.” Dennis winks.

Matthew nudges his rib with an elbow. “What’s Eli’s story?”

“He’s a great kid. Came to work with us last summer, after he graduated high school. He moved to Westbrook—with his grandparents—so he could attend classes at the University of Maine. The financial aid package fell through or something.” Dennis plucks a leaf from a branch overhead. “He takes care of the grandparents. We don't know the details, he doesn't share a whole lot. He's been transforming himself all winter. He lost a bunch of weight and is coming into his own.”

“He seems sweet.” Perry giggles. “Hopefully he doesn't get too attached to Phoenix. That boy can be chaos.”

“Meh—They’re young.” Dennis shrugs. “My god. Do you remember being that young? We were all chaos.”

“I’m still young.” Perry chimes.

“Bitch, you're the oldest one here.” Matthew jeers.

Perry gasps. “Bite your tongue.”

They laugh and poke at each other as they reach the grassy knoll past the end if the trail. Matthew has almost forgotten the reason they had hiked to the lake and back to begin with.

“We found it!” Jamie yells from the patio. Waving an object overhead that catches a beam of sunlight and reflects a sharp glare.

“I told you they’d have better luck than us.” Dennis cheers.

“Thank you!” Matthew calls back. He floats over the grass and wraps his arms around Jamie. Collecting the necklace and tucking it into his pocket. He brackets Jamie’s shoulders with both hands and lays a kiss on his cheek.

Tires crunch gravel around the front of the house.

“Robbie and Brendon are back,” Dennis announces.

Matthew moves through the house and up to his room. He lifts the Adam pendant to his lips and kisses it before he wraps it in a faded pink t-shirt and tucks it deep in the zip-close pocket of his suitcase. He won’t lose it again.

Chapter 13

The Storm

“Where’s Matty?” Robbie whispers at Dennis, dismissing his attempt to pull him in for a hug.

“He’s upstairs.”

“Good.” Robbie rushes around the back of the Yukon to collect the cake and hurries inside.

“Did he find his necklace?” Brendon asks Dennis, who is stupefied at being left without a cuddle.

“He did—well, Jamie found it.”

"Oh, good!" Brendon is relieved. He closes the SUV door.

"How are you?" Dennis looks concerned.

"I'm great." Brendon senses worry in Dennis' tilted grin and tight brows.

"You let me know if you need anything at all. Okay?" He grips both of Brendon's shoulders and stares into his eyes.

"I'm okay Papa Bear. I promise." Brendon lays against the burly mounds of Dennis' chest.

Dennis wraps him in big arms and squeezes. "We love you kiddo. Know that."

Brendon swallows the emotions swirling in his throat and chest. He squeezes Dennis in return.

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