Page 36 of Embers Glow After the Fire

“Good morning, boys.” Robbie stirs a foggy pitcher of coffee and ice cubes.

Brendon’s eyes graze the spread of stacked French toast, bacon, cheesy scrambled eggs, toasted bread, English muffins piled with glossy eggs Benedict, and a plate of donuts left from two mornings ago.

Dennis pulls a steaming tray of charred potato chunks from the oven and pushes them into a coral ceramic bowl with a spatula.

“Mmm.” Brendon hums.

“All the birthday boy’s favorites.” Robbie winks. “There’s Perry and Matthew now.” He nods past the patio at the pair marching up the trail and crossing the grassy knoll.

Brendon’s eyes wait to meet Matthew’s. He quirks a tender grin back sending flutters through Brendon’s chest.

“Help me move this to the table?” Dennis grabs the plate of bacon with his free hand and struts toward the patio.

Jamie and Nathan follow with their arms full.

Robbie throws himself over the island and grabs Brendon’s sleeve before he can walk off with the pitcher of orange juice. He stretches his face forward and widens his eyes. “How was your night?” He bites his lip.

Brendon arcs a brow. “Good—”

“I brought that gift box and wrapping paper up to your room—but you weren’t there.” His eyes float to Matthew taking a seat at the table and back. “They’re on your bed.”

“Thank you.” Brendon leans over the counter, inches from Robbie’s nose, and smirks before spinning on his heel and trotting out the sliders.

“Good for you!” Robbie stage-whispers over ice cubes clinking in the pitcher as he follows behind.

”How was your swim?” Robbie hip bumps Brendon toward the seat next to Matthew.

“Beautiful.” His eyes spark amber specks in the sunlight.

Brendon settles into the chair and Matthew’s hand squeezes his knee under the table. Heat radiates through his thigh, up his belly, and sizzles in his chest.

“Juice?” He offers, lifting the pitcher.

“Please?” Matthew’s finger glides up Brendon’s hip.

He turns to Robbie, locking his knees together, trying to squash the swelling in his shorts creeping between his thighs. “Juice?” He swallows the lust pooling under his tongue.

Breakfast sprawls into brunch as the group laughs and shares stories with playful banter lobbed back and forth across the table. Matthew chuckles, laid back in his seat, weaving his fingers on his lap, and leaning his knee against Brendon’s.

The gentle friction of skin on skin generates red heat in Brendon’s face and neck, aglow like hot embers after a fire. His mind fixes on strategizing a plan to lure Matthew away and into a private corner where he can devour him and satisfy the hunger that eggs and toast didn’t. He sucks a haul of sweet creamed iced coffee through a stainless-steel straw and bites its tip, side-eye tracing the birthday boy’s rugged physique in its relaxed slump. Until he notices Phoenix staring with a cocked brow. He shifts his knee away and crosses an ankle over, burrowing down into his chair and turning his attention to Perry’s announcement.

“I’ve decided to retire.” His friends seem surprised.

“Congratulations!” Dennis leans in and pats his shoulder.

“Thanks, Den.” Perry beams.

“You’ve worked hard and done incredible things,” Matthew adds. “You deserve to reap the rewards.”

Phoenix’s face drops as he stares into his orange juice and sips.

“What are your plans Phoenix?” Robbie notices.

“Perry is setting me up with a year’s salary and offered to cover tuition and expenses if I want to go back to school.” He looks to his boss. “I’m going to miss working for him.” He swipes his cheek. “I just got my yoga instructor certification, so i’ll give that a go.”

“I’ll be the first to sign up for class.” Perry’s stoic presence melts for a moment.

“You put me on that list too!” Matthew chimes.

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