3
1654 Words
JAXON
Hilarious. Sensational.
I agree I hadn’t exactly added being scolded by a seemingly tired mother after saving her son to my Christmas Eve’s to-do list, but it certainly put a smile on my face. And that was more than I could say for any other thing I had done throughout today.
Those baby blue eyes of hers would have trapped me in them if she wasn’t so pissed. As I watched her walk away, I saw the little boy wave me with a small smile on his face. He still had tears in his eyes, but the fear was gone. I was beyond relieved.
I thought of rushing to her to tender an apology. I mean, it wasn’t my style to judge mothers. She loved her boy, and I knew she hadn’t been careless for no reason, but I was stopped by the vibration of my phone in my right pocket.
I chuckled on seeing the caller ID. My sick, twisted best friend, and the reason I was currently ice skating in Seattle instead of hosting an eight hour long seminar for men who would rather be at work on Christmas Eve than spend time with their families. Say what you want, but it was all of jealousy. Unlike most of the people who attended these workshops to one day become me, I didn’t have a family. Not one I’ll love to spend time with anyway.
“Yo, man. I just got out of the meeting.” Adrian’s voice filled my ears, and I shook my head.
“So it’s a wrap?”
“You bet. We’re locked in for next year. So, I’m done with work now, and all that’s left is for me to meet you so we can head over to my place. My sister texted to tell me she touched down a few hours a…” he paused.
“Why can I feel you smirking?”
That’s my best friend for you. Six years as business partners, and the man knew far more than I knew myself.
“Cause I am?”
“Nope. Whatever you’re thinking, snap out of it.”
“Trust me, this has nothing to do with your sister. I just met the most beautiful, fiercest woman I have ever seen in my entire life.”
I heard his car door slam shut at the other end of the phone.
“In Seattle? Damn. Who would have thought? What’s she like? You got a name, didn’t you?”
Damn.
“No. I didn’t. It was quite fast, okay? One moment, I was saving this little boy from losing his life on the rink, and the next, I was staring into this bold blue set of eyes as she yelled at me.”
Adrian burst into laughter.
“She yelled at you? She definitely doesn’t know who you are then.”
I thought about it for a split second. I hadn’t seen a hint of recognition in her eyes.
I slipped my free hand into the pocket of my pants as I nodded.
“You’re right.” I replied, still thinking about it.
“I don’t think she did.”
“That’s strange. Well, I’m on my way to Michealson’s to grab dinner. My nephew would be home too, and my sister mentioned how much he loves blueberry muffins, so I’ll stop to get those, too. You should join me.”
“How about I go straight to your place?” I teased him, knowing he would be frowning wherever he was.
“Don’t f*****g play with me, J. Michaelson's, now.”
I threw my head back in laughter as I headed to my car.
It was quite funny when I thought about it. Some days ago, Adrian had asked me about my plans for Christmas Eve and the holiday in general. I thought he was crazy. He definitely knew what my plans were. It was the same thing every year, never changed. And he was also in charge of helping me out with the venue for my seminar. However, he had told me that things had changed, and he had a different plan this holiday. His sister, his only living relative, was coming into town with his nephew.
“What’s that got to do with me?” I had asked, a deep frown etched across my face. The man knew I didn’t play about my work, especially for something as ridiculous as a Christmas holiday.
“This year, you’re going to do something different for a change. You’re going to spend the holiday with me, get a feel of family for a change.”
I scoffed.
“Not interested.”
Adrian nodded and rose from his seat.
“Very well then. But you should know, I’m no longer interested in representing you for the pitch deck with the Malaysian clients.”
My eyes widened.
Fuck no.
“What? Why would you do that?”
I was beyond pissed when he said that. He knew how much those clients meant to my company, and to our partnership by extension. It didn’t help that the ladies seemed to like to speak to him more than they did to me. So, it was only normal he represented us, and now he was backing out?
“It’s simple. If you can’t find time to spend with your best friend, I see no reason why I should make out time for you.”
“Don’t be silly, Adrian.”
He let out the most sarcastic laugh I had ever heard and waved his hand.
“Silly me.” His smile disappeared instantly and made way for a frown.
“Oh, I’m very silly, trust me.”
“We’re not even sure we can land that family. And if we do, this is more money in the bag for us.”
“I’ll be risking a beautiful Christmas Eve for you, J. The least you can do is spend the holidays with me for once. Just this once.”
Remember when I said nothing mattered more to me than my business? Yes. That was the reason I was currently on my way to Michealson’s with my luggage in the back seat of my car.
I wasn’t surprised when I got there and realized Adrian had bought the whole place. He loved to dine in silence, especially after a long and tiresome day, which I’m sure our Malaysian ladies would have given him. He hadn’t even waited for me to arrive before ordering food.
“I see they didn’t take it easy on you.” I said with a smile, pulling out the chair from beside him and settling into it.
“I am spent, man. I should never have listened to you.” He looked up at me briefly, before sticking his nose back into the plate of pasta in front of him.
I let out a little laugh and reached for his right shoulder. He glared at me when I tapped it slowly.
“At least you have me for the holidays.”
When he rolled his eyes, I threw my head back in laughter.
“I’m beginning to wonder if it was even worth it.”
I consoled him with the fact that we had just secured our latest Asian branch, and further made him happy by paying for both our dinners and the food he got for his sister and her nephew. I had always known he had a sister, but he never spoke to her or even about her that much. The one time he did, he had said something about the man she married being a douchebag and a nobody. When he tried to talk her out of the wedding, she tried to cut ties with him. He wouldn’t listen, of course, and dug deeper into the man’s background. When he confronted her with his findings, she did as she threatened and cut off all ties with him.
He had been hurt for so long, he didn’t like to talk about it. But I couldn’t miss the glee in his eyes when he said she was coming home for the holidays.
It hurt me to think that someone would have a brother like Adrian and decide to throw it all away for a man, a relationship that turned out to be unworthy of it if I was to judge by what Adrian had told me. I was yet to meet her, but I already had a feeling she was an ungrateful and probably slow thinker who wouldn’t know something good even if it slapped her across the face. If I had a biological brother like Adrian, nothing in the world would ever get between us. Absolutely nothing.
The drive from Michealson’s to Adrian’s home took about fifteen minutes. Adrian continued to smile from ear to ear like an excited little boy. I had never seen my friend like that, not in the longest time.
“Remember, Jaxon. You have to be polite. She’s my little sister, and I love her more than you’ll ever know.”
A thin smirk crept into my face as he opened his front door, leading me inside.
“I promise to be on my best behavior.”
“You better,” he retorted.
“She used to eat men like you for breakfast.”
I parted my lips to make a snarky comment when a familiar feminine voice screamed from the top of the stairs.
“Adrian!”
I tilted my neck up to look at her. A slim slender figure dressed in a brown cashmere sweater and matching brown sweatpants threw her arms in the air as she ran down the stairs, screaming and squealing like a little girl.
Ash brown hair and bright baby blue eyes…
An image flashed in my head.
My jaw all but dropped to the ground.
The woman from the ski club was Adrian’s sister?!
- Writer
