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Finally, on the sixth ring, he answers. “Cannon? Are you actually reaching out to socialize or am I dreaming?”
I chuckle. "Hey, it's been a long time.”
"Yeah, it has," he replies, still sounding a bit thunderstruck. "How have you been?"
"I've been good, thanks. How about you?"
He hums, thinking about the answer. "I'm doing well. Things have been busy with the magazine, but I can't complain. Just getting used to how things are with real success and not just scraping to get by. So what's new with you?"
"Well, that's actually why I'm calling. I have a bit of a problem, and I was hoping you might be able to help me out." I hope he can’t hear the uncharacteristic nerves in my voice. I know good and well that it’s bad form to only contact a friend for a favor, but then again, Greg has always known the kind of man I am.
But Greg, easygoing as ever, doesn’t even hesitate. "Sure, what's going on?"
I breathe a sigh of relief. "It's my girlfriend–” Greg guffaws, and I can hear him start to express disbelief. I suppress my own laughter, as rare as it is, and cut him off. “I know, I know, it’s unbelievable, but I do have someone now. Honestly, man, I’m going to make her my wife, but we’re running into a roadblock here…”
I pause, carefully considering what I need to say next but finally just deciding to tell him the truth. He’ll have to know it anyway if he’s going to help me. “I met her after I hired her atElite Editions.She's a magazine writer…well, just an intern right now…and she's been working remotely since we moved in together to avoid any office upset. But she's not happy, and I don't know how to make it work for her. I don't want to stand in the way of her career, but I also don't want to lose her.”
Greg is quiet for a moment, but when he responds, there’s no judgment in his tone. "Hmm, that's a tough one. Have you considered looking for a job at a different magazine?"
"That’s exactly what I’ve been thinking, man, but I'm worried that no one will hire her because she's in a relationship with me. Who’s going to hire a journalist when her boyfriend is the CEO of a rival magazine?”
"Well, what if she worked for a magazine that wasn't a direct competitor?” he asks, and I resist the urge to pump my fist in success. Greg sees exactly the same solution I thought up in my head. “Have you thought about that?"
"Yeah, I’ve considered it, which leads me to my real question…Do you know of any openings at your magazine?"
"As a matter of fact, we're always looking for talented writers. How about I give your girlfriend a chance? I'll meet her in person and see if she's a good fit for the job. What do you think?"
Relief hits me like a tidal wave. "I think that would be amazing. Thank you so much. I really appreciate it." I pause. “And I’m sorry for being a shit friend over the years, Greg.”
"Don’t even worry about all that, Cannon. I know how life can get the best of us. Just have her send me her resume, and we'll set up a meeting. Actually, I’m in Cozumel for the next week, but I know for a fact that you have your own private jet, so just fly her down and we’ll do the interview here in paradise. How does that sound?"
"That sounds perfect.” It actually sounds more than perfect. A new career for Candace, and time with her in Cozumel? It’s a dream come true. “Thank you again.”
"No problem. It's good to catch up with you, buddy. We'll have to do it more often."
"Definitely. I’ll see you soon.”
6
CANDACE
As the private jet takes off and rises into the sky, a sense of excitement washes over me. This is my first time traveling on a private jet, and it feels like a dream. Cannon has been strangely vague about the details of our little trip, but I can tell that he’s excited, too. Maybe more excited than me, even, which doesn’t make much sense to me.
This definitely isn’t the first time that he’s been to such an amazing tropical paradise, even if it’s not Cozumel specifically.
The luxurious leather seats are so comfortable, and I’m able to flip the armrest up and snuggle even closer to Cannon as we complete takeoff and ascend into the clouds. I can't believe I'm actually here, flying to Cozumel on a private jet. My life has taken so many turns, and this is one of my favorite so far.
There is a bit of a shadow hanging over me, though, no matter how much I’m looking forward to all of this. I know that Cannon planned this vacation as a way to make up for the fight we had, where I cried myself to sleep as he drove off to God knows where.
The very next morning, he told me we’d be leaving in two days, and since then, things between us have gone back to normal…sort of. Cannon won’t talk to me at all about work, so the big problem we fought over is still there, unresolved. Maybe after unwinding on the beach with me for some time, he’ll be more open to hearing me out.
I turn to the window and watch as the city below grows smaller and smaller, eventually giving way to a vast expanse of blue. Holding my hand the entire time, Cannon swipes his thumbs over my knuckles absentmindedly while he orders mimosas from his personal flight attendant, and we sip on the sweet drinks as we fly far away from our hazy, mountainous home.
The clouds race past the window, their fluffy white tops seeming to stretch on forever. I've always loved flying, and there's something so magical about being high above the world, looking down at the tiny details below.
As we fly further south, I start to see the first hints of the tropical paradise that awaits us. The deep blue of the ocean gives way to a turquoise so bright and clear it almost hurts my eyes. Then, the island is there, small from far above but much larger than I anticipated as we circle to land, all the details coming into clarity.
White sandy beaches stretch out as far as the eye can see, dotted with palm trees and surrounded by lush green jungle. I can see crystal clear streams snaking their way through the trees, sparkling in the sunlight.
