at the last minute, but that’s just how I was these days. As the young CEO of a multi-billion-dollar tech company, I didn’t have as much control over my schedule as others might think I would. I was a slave to my company, modifying my waking and sleeping hours to fit the company needs above my own. Circadian rhythm who? But I had something figure out for the holidays, so as long as it didn’t fall through I would be free to go and hang out with Sebastian to make up as much time as possible for the past few years we’d missed with each other.
I hadn’t given him the exact time of my arrival, as I didn’t know how long my last-minute preparations would take, so I figured that I should probably call him now to let him know that I was nearly there. Since it was a private jet and it was only me onboard, I could call Sebastian using the plane’s wifi without any worries about it messing with the plane’s communications system.
So, I hit his number and leaned back in my seat, relaxing into the leather cushions.
“Hello?” Sebastian said, picking up on the second ring.
“Did you not look at the caller ID, Grandpa?” I teased. “It’s me.”
“Grayson! Are you leaving soon? We’re expecting you.”
“I’m on my way over now,” I said. “We should be landing in another fifteen minutes, then maybe another half an hour to drive to your house. Will you be ready for me?”
“Oh, you know I’m always ready for you,” Sebastian said with a laugh. “Seriously, though, if you have a private jet, why don’t you come down more often?”
“Oh, you know, jet fuel is expensive.” It was, but I could certainly afford enough of it to visit Sebastian every day and still live my lavish lifestyle.
“‘Jet fuel is expensive’,” he said in a mocking tone of voice. “Oh, sure, Mr. Tech Billionaire. It’s not that you’re too big now to come back and visit your sleepy, small hometown.”
“Excuse me, that’s to you Mr. Grayson Davis. Seriously, though, I would but you know what it’s like running a company.”
Sebastian scoffed. “Like I’ll ever know about that. I’m perfectly fine with my career as a dentist, thank you very much.”
“Who knows—maybe you’ll take over the dentistry you’re currently working at.”
Sebastian laughed. “No thanks; too many worries and not enough vacation time. Do you know how mad my girlfriend would be if I sacrificed our time together like that?”
“Oh, you could carve out time for her.”
I could practically hear him roll his eyes. “Not enough. You know the two of us are practically attached at the hip.”
“Now, I haven’t met this one yet, right?”
“No, you haven’t, but maybe you will soon.”
“Maybe. We’ll see how I’m feeling.”
“Awwww, come on, Grayson.”
“I said we’ll see how I’m feeling!”
Sebastian huffed. “But I really do think this one could be the one!”
“So? I won’t know if she is until I’m watching her walk down the aisle towards you. What’s the point in meeting her now?”
I did want to meet her, though. I cared about the things that were important to Sebastian, this was just our way of teasing each other; he knew that well enough and would never dream of taking me seriously.
“You’re a cold, cold man, Grayson.”
“The absolute coldest.”
“Speaking of which, you made sure to pack warm, right?” Sebastian’s voice sounded genuinely concerned, bless his little heart.
I laughed. “Sebastian, do you think I could ever forget how cold the winters of my childhood were? Of course I packed warm clothes. I’m currently wearing cashmere and a down jacket as we speak. There’s no need to get your mother hen feathers in a twist.”
Sebastian’s laughter ended in an audible pout. “I am not a mother hen and you know it!”
“But you act like one.”
“I do not.”
“You’re concerned about me, aren’t you?”
“Only because you’re my friend and you’ve been relaxing on the sunny beaches of southern California for too long. I’m sure you can take care of yourself if need be. We probably won’t leave you out in the snow.”
“Oh, sure,” I said, letting out my own laugh. “So I’m guessing it’s been particularly cold this year, then?”
“Only the coldest! Serenity’s been spending her days locked up in her room buried under a pile of blankets because of it. Speaking of which, she’s excited to see you!”
“It has been a while,” I said. “God, how old is she now?”
“Twenty-four, actually. Isn’t that kind of crazy?”
“Time flies,” I agreed.
Serenity Allen was Sebastian’s