Page 44 of Embers Glow After the Fire

Dennis passes out three blankets for the crew to help spread over the ground.

“There’s a hotdog cart and a popcorn vendor.” Matthew notes. “Who’s hungry?”

“Me!” Faguette reflects moonlight as Phoenix twirls.

Brendon’s phone chimes a hurricane of notifications from his pocket.

“Oh! We have service here?” Robbie reaches into his pocket.

“Dammit. I left mine back at the cabin.” Phoenix pouts.

Brendon’s throat closes as he fumbles to pull the noisy device out, desperate to mute it.

“Do you want anything?” Matthew asks.

His belly is nearly spilling out onto the field. “No thanks.” He flashes an awkward smile.

Dennis leads the charge as some of the group breaks away.

Brendon grits his teeth as he swipes the glass surface and lights up the screen. He scrolls the list of alerts. There are tens of dozens from various Unknown Callers. Texts and voicemails. He taps one at random.

“Answer me Brendon—I will find you.” His guts twist. “This isn’t over. Quit being a little bitch.” The surge of his heart rate makes him queasy. “I miss you—Please call me,” The manipulative threats and confusing pleas are all too familiar. He presses the off switch until the phone clicks and puts it away.

“Are you okay?” Jamie asks softly with concern all over his face.

“Yes.” Brendon lies. The reality of his life away from this perfect vacation consumes him again. He ponders excusing himself to go hurl in the bushes but swallows it down. Matthew is across the field ordering a bucket of popcorn and laughing with the vendor. It dawns on him that this lovely little fling comes to a close tonight. They won’t see each other again after the drive back to Portland tomorrow. Maybe he’ll just sleep in his own guest bed tonight and cut things off. Matthew deserves more than what he has to offer. It would be best.

His eyes float over the dark field peppered with townies and tourists all coming together to celebrate the light show. Battery-powered lanterns and cell phone screens offer just enough glow to catch glimpses of cheery faces greeting one another. Shadows dance as bodies move about the night in anticipation.

Suddenly a familiar silhouette backlit by waving sparklers appears in the crowd. The man with Christian’s build walks across the field with long strides just like his husband’s.

Brendon clamps his eyes and fills his diaphragm with pine-tinctured air. The figure is gone when he opens them again.

Robbie and Perry return with hot dogs for the group.

Brendon declines when offered.

“You good?” Robbie’s voice is muffled by chatter around them and the pounding of blood surging in Brendon’s ears.

He nods. His eyes find Matthew again, standing next to Dennis near the popcorn booth. They’re both cradling mounded buckets in each arm and chatting with a stranger dressed in a dark hooded sweatshirt and khaki shorts. The red tattoo of a Chinese dragon wrapping the back of his left calf is eerily similar to Christian’s from a distance.

The sick feeling burns his chest.

“Brendon—” Robbie seems far away. Brendon is surprised when he's close enough to shake his shoulder. “Are you okay? You're white as a ghost.” He passes him a bottled water.

Volume is clear in his ears again. He shakes his head. “Too much Midori.” He bites his cheek.

The stranger is gone.

Dennis and Matthew are making their way back to the blankets.

Brendon pops the cap and dumps the cool water down his throat. Trying to wash back the gurgling anxiety.

“Todd is going to join us later.” Dennis announces. “He’s looking for his husband in the crowd. They got separated.”

Matthew offers Brendon a bucket of popcorn.

He waves it away. “No, thank you.”

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