Page 60 of Embers Glow After the Fire

They both respond in near unison. “Meet you there.”

Chapter 24

Flight

”Matty!” Phoenix hangs over a brass post propping up the roped maze in front of the check-in counter. He waves for Matthew to join him and Perry.

Matthew scoots in line, two patrons behind his friends.

“How was your night?” The curly twink wags his brows.

Matthew’s face burns when the strangers turn and glare. He challenges their gawks with a grit toothed grin.

Perry ushers the nosey couple past, letting them lead in line as the rep calls “next.”

“Did you two finally—“

“Phoenix.” Perry interrupts.

The naughty boy slinks away from his question with a mischievous smirk.

Matthew chuckles and rolls his eyes.

“Is Brendon okay?” Perry is concerned.

“I think so.” Matthew’s phone chimes. He can’t mask his joy as he reads the message.

Brendon: “Miss you already.”

Perry and Phoenix are both googly eyed when he looks up.

“Next?” The ticket rep barks.

”C’mon.” Perry pushes Matthew ahead and they step up to the chest-level counter.

“What can I do for you?” The bothered brunette with sharp bangs and blood-red lips looks down her nose from the raised platform.

Matthew verifies his information and passes her the ticket. When Perry hears that he’s flying economy, he insists on paying for the upgrade to first-class so they can all sit together.

The brunette snarls at the extra work but Perry slaps his shiny black credit card on the counter and stares her into submission.

The trio trot toward seats near the gate.

“What a wild way to end that vacation.” Perry folds his long legs and crosses his arms.

”It feels surreal.” Matthew agrees. He’s been focused on Brendon but the weight of the week sinks in all at once. There’s a dark truth he and his friends will share for the rest of their lives. He taps on his phone and scrolls his favorites list of contacts for Robbie’s info.

“How are you this morning?” The message whooshes away.

Phoenix ogles a trio of college age bros, flip-flopping past and dropping into seats the next row over. He smolders at the tallest one with buff arms poking out of a sleeveless tee sat facing forward, who coys a dimpled smirk back.

Matthew chucks. “Did you let Eli down gently?”

“I was responsible. We had clear boundaries from the start.” Phoenix doesn’t break eye contact with the chiseled jock eye-fucking him across the room. “He was fun.” His blue eyes sparkle.

Matthew’s phone chimes.

Robbie: “I’m okay. Shaken but okay.”

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