Page 23 of Our Radiant Embers

“That’s what she said?” I asked, and George’s teeth flashed with a smile.

“Man, I just love those deep, mature conversations you and I keep having. Can I interest you in a fart cushion?”

It tickled a laugh out of me, and God, that felt good—seemed like it had been a while, tension thick in my veins since I’d been called with the news that we’d co-lead the Green Horizon Initiative. I was so far out of my depth I couldn’t even see the bloody shore anymore.

“Anyway.” I sobered. “Point is, I can’t manage something that…that massive from our kitchen table. I need an office, and the Harringtons might be able to make it happen within two or three weeks. Everyone else? Probably months.”

George was quiet for a second, moving from plant to plant with a calm, easy rhythm that betrayed years of practice. He was poised to take over the Sands’ gardening and landscaping business once his parents retired. I let my gaze soften to study his magic. While not as powerful as Adam’s, it enveloped him in a soft, green glow that made his eyes look hazel more than brown.

“Do you think…” He trailed off.

“I generally try not to,” I replied anyway.

His chuckle blended in with the patter of rain before he grew serious once more. “No, I mean—he’s not trying to, like, buy sexual favours, is he? Or your silence, I guess?”

My silence? While possible, it seemed unlikely given I’d made it clear I wouldn’t out him. On that note, I had to hand it to my siblings—they’d been on their best behaviour yesterday, at least after I’d told them that Adam might be in the closet and accidentally outing him to his own brother would be inexcusable.

Maybe I didn’t give Laurie and Jack quite enough credit sometimes. But then, I still found it hard to believe they were adults in the eyes of the law.

“If he really is worried about me outing him...” I shook my head. “He shouldn’t be. And if he wants sexual favours, all he needs to do is ask. Ideally on his knees.”

Not that I’d given it much thought other than the occasional flicker of attraction. Really. Or maybe my denial was working overtime and those occasional flickers were more like a powder keg I used as a rocking chair.

George slid me a searching glance. “I thought you didn’t like him?”

“I don’t.” I offered a hapless shrug. “He’s hot, though.”

“Shallow, mate.” George’s tone carried exasperated amusement.

It reminded me of how he’d indulged me back in uni, when I’d gone through a brief but intense phase of too much booze and sex combined with insufficient sleep. He’d eventually sat me down as exams loomed and told me to cut the crap. I’d spiralled into defensiveness only to come crawling back the next morning, contrite. Our friendship had emerged stronger for it.

I spread my arms. “Honestly, I prefer the term aesthetically appreciative.”

“Aesthetics over ethics, eh?” Another chuckle that barely translated over the rain. “But anyway, enough about your hard-on for Adam?—”

“Don’t make it bigger than it is,” I interrupted, and George tossed me a smirk.

“Thought it’s your job to inflate the truth?”

Well, if that’s where he wanted to take this discussion…I bit down on a grin. “Like you haven’t seen it before.”

“Not when it’s loaded and ready to go,” he said with a dramatic shudder. “And thank fuck for that.”

I had a quip ready, then decided to rope it back in since experience taught me that George would not back down first. Another time I would be game for a banter race to the bottom, but with the presentation to the government just around the corner…

“I think we had a point,” I said. “Seems we lost it some ten minutes ago.”

“Right.” George nodded, all traces of humour melting away. “And that point was: do you accept his offer? I say yes—you need an office. You could have used one two years ago, and now it’s become absolutely necessary. If he wants to throw the Harrington weight behind making it happen, hey, why stop him?”

“You said it yourself—I’d owe him.”

“Yes.” George’s forehead wrinkled in thought, his fingers absently tracing the stem of a rose. “But the two things that immediately come to mind, namely sex and silence, aren’t an issue. Anything else…I trust your moral compass.”

An actual office instead of the tiny desk crammed into a corner of my bedroom. Space to spread out the project plans and detailed maps of the areas. It would be…helpful. To put it mildly.

“Makes sense.” I exhaled and leaned against a metal pole that supported the glass roof. “So. Presentation to the government in three days. Adam’s assistant is getting the slides ready as we speak, and then we meet tomorrow for a run-through. If we get a yes…You know I’ll want you involved in the park area, right?”

George looked flattered. “Thanks, mate. I doubt the Harringtons will be keen to bring us in, though. They’ve got their go-tos.”

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