Friendship can be everything... until it's not enough.

Charlie Madden left his city life behind to help his great-aunt run a quilting shop in rural Lakes Entrance. He loves his quieter new life... almost as much as he loves Archie Tucker.

Archie, his closest friend in town and everybody's favourite person, has no idea how Charlie feels, and Charlie's not willing to risk their friendship by making a move. He can be content to love from afar as long as Archie's still in his life.

But then bushfires sweep the region, and CFA volunteer Archie is called out to battle the blaze... and as Gippsland burns, Charlie realizes that some things are worth the risk.

Previously published as part of the When the Smoke Clears charity anthology