Page 61 of Embers Glow After the Fire

Matthew replies: “I’m glad to hear it. Brendon has a new phone, same number. Keep an eye on him?”

Robbie: “Of course. You take care and don’t worry. We’ll come see you soon.”

There’s a brief pause before the next message pops up.

Robbie: “We’ll bring lover boy with us.” Accompanied by a winking face emoji.

Matthew sends a red heart decal and tucks his phone away.

“Flight 87 to Hartsfield-Jackson International now boarding at gate 12,” is announced over the intercom.

“That’s us.” Phoenix straightens in his seat and wets his lip for the flirty stranger.

“Give it a minute. Let the line die down. Our seats will wait for us.” Perry doesn’t budge.

The travelers form a line at the gate agent’s podium.

Phoenix’s eyes track the buff bro strutting across the floor, hanging behind his friends and suggestively nodding for Phoenix to follow.

“I’ll see you gentlemen on the plane.” He winks and strolls up to the line. The flirty pair exchange coy glances over a young family splitting the space between them, behind his buddies’ backs.

“So—how was your night?” Perry bites his lip.

“The night was chill.” Matthew grins. “This morning was steamy—literally.”

Perry grits his teeth and growls.

“Good for both of you.” He pats Matthew’s knee. “Will you be flying up here every weekend now?” He teases.

“I don’t think so.” Matthew sinks. “We had a great week—minus the crazy ex tumbling over a cliff to his death after nearly choking me out—but I’m not putting much faith into anything more than a fling. We both have lives to get back to,” he reasons with himself. Slightly taken back by his own nonchalant dismissal of Christian’s tragic demise. The fucker got what was coming to him.

Perry shrugs.

“Let’s go.” Matthew slings his duffel bag over a shoulder.

Perry peels from his seat and hugs his designer bag. They walk side by side and flash the gate agent their tickets.

Phoenix is lounging in their spacious row, giddy as he presents the front face of his phone to boast about getting the bro’s number.

Perry pulls a book from his bag, tucking it under his arm and shoving his and Matthew’s carry-ons into the overhead compartment across the aisle.

Matthew sinks into the first-class lounger and stretches his legs.

Phoenix poses for a pre-flight selfie shoot and taps away on his phone.

“Thank again, for the upgrade.” Matthew beams

“It’s my pleasure love.” Perry positions reading glasses on his nose and digs into his book.

Chapter 25

Jordan

Brendon hasn’t been responding to Matthew’s texts the past few days. He’s frozen by the nagging guilt of Christian’s death and chaos he’s brought into everyone’s lives. He doesn’t deserve the excited flutters in his belly every time the phone chimes a sweet “Good morning” or “How was your day?”

The last message he received was a check-in after ghosting two before that. He can’t find the words or courage to release Matthew from this mess he’s lured him into. He deserves more than Brendon has to offer. Adam’s perfect shoes seem to big to fill.

Maybe Christian was right all along. He is a worthless investment and an ungrateful piece of shit as a husband.

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