Page 100 of Disco Witches of Fire Island

“Oh, Dory, no,” Joe said. “We can’t—”

“You don’t want to offend her,” Howie warned with a raised eyebrow. “Just take it.”

Joe stuck the envelope in his duffel and hugged Dory very tight. She slid her hand atop his head, looked deeply into his eyes, and blessed him.

“Now I need to get back to the house,” she said. “Elena is calling me at five from her new place, and I don’t want to miss the call.” She turned to those who would be remaining. “Saint D’Norman and I shall see you three for the equinox ceremony on the twenty-second, yes?”

Howie and Lenny nodded their heads in that strange knowing way of theirs. Ronnie copied them awkwardly. Talk about life being surprising—Ronnie, the man who’d vowed never to be “one of those freaks who lived year-round on Fire Island,” was indeed planning to live year-round on Fire Island with Vince, a decidedly non-rich, non-famous boyfriend. Best of all, Ronnie appeared more content than Joe had ever seen him.

“You guys are gonna take care of my buddy Ronnie, right?”

“We’ll do our best,” Howie said, pulling Joe into his huge arms and hugging him so his face was crushed into the plush of the maroon bathrobe.

“I’m so, so glad you spent time with us,” Howie whispered over Joe’s head. “I have something for you too.” He fished into his fanny pack and pulled out Elliot’s mixtapeLove Songs 1, complete with case and cassette.

Joe momentarily couldn’t breathe. “You found it?”

“No,” Howie said. “Irecreatedit. We had every song in our collection already. I just followed Elliot’s beautiful handwritten list. You can share it with Fergal on the drive across.”

“Thanks, Howie.” Joe stared at the newly reconstructed mixtape in his hand. Saying goodbye to the others was hard enough. But saying goodbye to Howie without turning into a mess seemed impossible, so Joe just smiled and nodded.

“I need to tell you something.” Howie sniffled and lowered his voice. “It’s not always gonna be smooth sailing. You know that, right? Just remember that life goes fast. That doesn’t mean it’s not wonderful. So don’t waste too much time worrying about the ending. I’m not a mystic—that was Max’s job, and a little bit of Saint D’Norman’s. But like I once told you, not everyone who has you-know-what right now will die from it. I truly believe that. With your help wewilltriumph over the Great Darkness. ‘An army of lovers cannot fail.’ Ronnie knows what I’m talking about, don’t you?”

Ronnie smiled and held Vince’s hand tighter. The ferry horn blasted.

“Now you better not miss your boat,” Howie said. “That handsome ferryman of yours is ready to take you away.”

Joe pulled both Howie and Lenny into his arms and hugged them tightly. Their combined scent of leather, patchouli oil, and cleaning chemicals filled Joe’s nose and swirled around his heart. “Thanks for the mixtape,” he whispered. “Thanks for saving my ass, and thanks for …” He could say no more.

Howie wiped his own wet face on the sleeve of his bathrobe. Then he herded Lenny and Vince ten feet away to give Joe and Ronnie a moment to themselves. At first, the two best friends stood facing each other awkwardly.

“I can’t believe you’re staying, and I’m leaving,” Joe said.

“Can’t second-guess the Great Goddess Mother.” Ronnie winked.

“I also can’t believe you just said that.” Joe’s tear ducts unleashed. “I love you, my big brother.”

“I love you, my little brother. You’ll be thirty years old next time I see you.”

“At least.” Joe snuffled and smiled. After using his T-shirt hem like a handkerchief, he said, “And it’s only another twenty-nine years until my next Saturn Returns, so …”

The ferry blasted its horn again. The rush of other straggling passengers pushed past Joe and Ronnie, to avoid missing the soon-to-be-removed gangplank.

Joe picked up his duffel. “Maybe you can come visit us in Honolulu this winter when it’s quiet. Fergal will be in school full time, but I’ll just be taking organic chem, bartending, and studying for the MCATs, so I’ll have time to hang out.”

“I’d love to, but not this winter.” Ronnie cracked his knuckles nervously. “We got big plans for the new Asylum Harbor now that Scotty gave us a new deal on the space.”

“I still can’t believe he agreed to it,” Joe said, shaking his head.

“Yeah.” Ronnie nodded with a mysterious wink. “You never know what’ll change people’s minds. Anyway, it’s gonna be a lot more work being a co-owner and rebuilding, so I’ll need to stick pretty close for a bit.”

“Yeah, well, sometime, then,” Joe said.

“Yeah, for sure,” Ronnie answered, his voice growing froggy. “Do you remember everything I taught you about being a good gay?”

Joe laughed as they walked together slowly to the gate. “Of course,” he said.

“Good. Then forget it.” Ronnie’s lower lip quivered. “It was bullshit. But remember the stuff I taught you to about how to dress and work out. That advice was solid.”

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