Page 8 of Tumbling Hearts

Ray chuckles at that. “Maybe you’ll be the one to finally find it.”

“Maybe, huh?” Gene smiles at Ray. “I’ll keep searching. Maybe I’ll even include it on one of our songs.”

“That’s the spirit.”

Gene strums the same, low chord again, then finds another that matches. As the beautiful music plays, Ray gazes out at the water. The sun is getting closer to the horizon. It paints the sky beautiful colors: red, pink, and gold. Popping sounds are heard in the distance—fireworks, definitely—and Ray’s mind drifts, mixing the music with the visuals in front of him. A golden sunset…

“Hey Gene, I’ve got an idea for a song.”

“Oh, really?” He stops strumming for a moment.

“It’s right here in front of us. A golden sunset.”

“Golden sunset…” Gene purses his lips, and looks out at the water. “Yeah, that sounds good.” He strums that chord again, then switches, playing another, then another, strumming a faster rhythm.

Ray listens to Gene repeat the same chord progression a couple times, and forms a tune to it in his head. He sings it out loud on the next round, “Take me away, honey, where dreams are met.”

“Yeah, just like that,” Gene says, continuing to strum.

“I’ll drive you away through the golden sunset.”

Ray looks onward as Gene strums, watching boats in the distance pass them by. He wonders if they have fireworks on board and if they’ll be shooting them off once the darkness takes over. But for now, the sky is gold, the clouds are glowing, and the warm, humid breeze feels so good on his skin.

“Woah-oh, baby, through the golden sunset,” he sings.

Instead of moving onto new chords for a verse, Gene repeats the same progression again. “Let’s sing that together, now. I’ll add a harmony.”

“Alright.” Ray nods, and he sings it again, this time with Gene:

“Take me away, honey, where dreams are met.”

Chords are strummed, voices resting during the measure.

“I’ll drive you away through the golden sunset.”

Another chord change, another measure.

“Woah-oh, baby, through the golden sunset.”

Gene’s voice melts so perfectly with Ray’s, finding the correct harmony even with only hearing him sing it once. How is he always so good at this? Warmth and adoration for his best friend flow through Ray, bursting with butterflies trapped in his chest. He can’t help but smile. He looks at Gene, already finding Gene staring right back at him. Something about his moment—the waves crashing onto the rocks, the sound of the guitar, the pink-gold color of the sky, and how that light reflects on Gene’s handsome face and his sparkling, hazel eyes—it all comes flooding into Ray’s senses. He reaches across the armrest and places his hand on Gene’s arm, making him pause his strumming.

It’s as if there’s a magnet inside him, pulling him ever so closer to Gene, leaning in just a little more. Gene must have a similar magnetic force that pulls him closer too. Ray looks at Gene’s lips, and he notices Gene look at his. It’s been much too long since their lips have touched. If only they could bridge that gap, and Ray could finally taste Gene again. Maybe he can, out here behind the motel, nothing but them and the expanse of the lake⁠—

A loud boom crashes behind them.

Ray and Gene both turn in their seats, startled, looking for where the sound came from⁠—

Another boom crashes again, and they witness the glittering of millions of tiny sparkles, exploding nearby in the sky on the other side of the motel.

“Oh, uh, someone must be lighting fireworks in the parking lot,” Gene says with a shaky voice.

“They’re doing it pretty early. It’s still not that dark out yet.” Ray’s heart is beating fast, feeling each vibration in his throat.

“I guess so. That scared me for a second,” Gene chuckles.

“Yeah, same.” He bites his lip as he turns his gaze back to his best friend.

“Well, uh… I guess we can keep working on that song. I really liked what we started.”