How did we get here?
After getting the text from Sebastian, you noticed you had just enough time to do something presentable with your sloppy nap hair, throw on a little makeup and some decent clothes. Once that was done, you drove over to Chris's house.
They lived about a fifteen minute drive away on the East side of the valley. Your apartment was somewhere in the center.
Chris had bought an older, dark brick, bungalow style house about four years ago. It had a large concrete porch with brick half walls in place of railings that also trailed down either side the steps that were positioned in the center. The porch ran the full length of the front of the house and was covered by the roof as if it was a part of the interior. The front yard was just a concrete path from the porch to rhe sidewalk and green grass. A driveway on the left of the house made of two thin parallel concrete trails; like tiny sidewalks with grass wherever there wasn't concrete led just past the back of the house to a concrete slab and then a detached garage. The back yard was small, but green with a fire pit in the middle of the lawn for drinking beers and hanging out at night. A hammock hung between two established trees in the back corner. There was a small, ground level, wooden deck without rails just off the back sunroom of the house, with a small, round, in ground hot tub inside the deck portion that wrapped around the opposite side of the house from where the driveway and garage was. The house had been well taken care of and updated. Sebastian had moved in about two years ago.
You loved the vibe in the neighborhood; chill, friendly, historical, families of all stages and people of all ages. Mature trees lined the streets and occupied spaces in a lot of the yards, offering dense shade for walks and hanging out on porches. There were coffee shops, book and music stores, bakeries, a library, community college, convience and grocery stores nearby, some within walking distance.
You and Chris were sitting at the kitchen table, having coffee, laughing, talking about movies, TV, books and inside jokes. He also talked about sports while you listened and tried not to fall asleep, staring at him, blinking and occasionally nodding, because you didn't really care about sports, but you tried to humor him.
There was a creak, a soft thud and a loud bang from the front of the house followed by a shout, "Honey! I'm home!" Heavy footsteps started to fall on the hardwood floors, working their way from the living and sittng room, through the dining room and towards the kitchen at the back of the house.
"I really wish you'd stop calling me 'honey'.", Chris called out, stood and turned toward the kitchen entrance, shoving his hands in his jean pockets, smiling as Sebastian came into view.
Sebastian snapped back, "I wasn't talkin' to you this time, man.", he tossed his keys on the kitchen island as he continued to move forward.
You had already stood and a huge smile was plastered on your face. When Sebastian spotted you, he walked faster towards you, his face flashing into the biggest smile, "There she is!" You held out your arms and he nearly knocked you over when you collided into a hug. "Hey, doll!" Without skipping a beat, he lifted you off your feet, swinging you back and forth a bit like a rag doll; ironic. Maybe that's why he called you 'doll'. You took a soft breath in through your nose; God, you missed his smell. He planted a strong kiss on your cheek and then set you down, his hands moved to your shoulders and he looked down at you. His face had softened, but the corners of his mouth were still turned up slightly. "Missed you.", he said softly.
"Ditto.", your expression mirrored his own and he gave you a chuck under the chin with a finger.
He finally turned to Chris and gave him a brutal hug, lots of back slapping on both their parts. "Missed you, too.", he smiled, stepping back, giving Chris's shoulder a mellow shake with one hand.
"Good to have you back, bro.", Chris nodded and grinned.
"Have you guys eaten yet? I'm starving.", Sebastian headed past Chris, and around the island to the fridge to forage for something, opening it and sticking his head in.
You had met these two charming men about a year ago through a nail client, Pepper. She had been coming to you for a few months, every two weeks, on Wednesdays at noon, like clockwork, she still does... Or did, until you lost your job yesterday. She always got a pedicure with gel polish. Her boyfriend, Tony, was really successful. He used to be her boss, now they run his company together and share a life. They invent new and better technology on a global level. Chris actually works for Tony's company in software development. Tony took a liking to Chris and they socialize outside of work as well.
Chris and Sebastian have been friends since middle school; they've been through everything together. They drift apart in life sometimes, but always end up at each other's side again.
Sebastian was working at a commercial and residential insurance company as an agent. He made pretty good money, but he wasn't real sure if he wanted to keep going that direction. He and Chris had entertained the idea about Seb possibly working for Tony and getting a degree in computer sciences.
Pepper had come to her appointment one day and invited you to come along with her, Tony and a group of friends to something called 'Cosmic Bowling' that Friday; bowling under black lights and loud dance music.
You didn't have much of a social life, so you accepted. Chris and Sebastian were there. They were both lightly flirtatious with you, in a friendly way; Seb a bit more than Chris. They each even bought you a beer or two. You became fast friends and now they're your best friends.
Chris pressed his lips together for a quick moment, "Uh, Seb?"
"Yeah?" From Sebastian's muffled response, you could tell he had already shoved something in his mouth and you could hear him rifling through containers and bags to find something more, his head still in the fridge.
"Before dinner," Chris's tone lowered, "we need to talk."
Sebastian straightened slowly and leaned back slightly from behind the door so you both could see his face. His forehead was wrinkled up in surprise, his mouth was full of food and though his lips were pressed closed, his jaw was wide open, mid chew. His eyes were darting back and forth between you and Chris. "Okay.", he mumbled through his food, looking worried.