Everly
There area select few things that can help me zone out and relax, make me stop thinking about work emails, end-of-quarter numbers, and overzealous vendors. I never understood the importance of finding the things that make me turn off the internal scrutiny I’m so very good at unleashing on myself.
I can sit down for hours and read a book straight through; forgo sleep and even snacks if a romance book has the right balance of steam and anticipation for that happily ever after. And a great upside-down latte, or my new favorite, a Hungry Eye. Iced is always preferred. I can escape with caffeine and dirty words. It’s so simple and it can act as such a source of therapy for me. I’m already itching to go back to Brews & Books, explore some of the new indie authors, and maybe add more to my already overflowing bookshelves.
Beyond books, this town and the mountains are what ground me. The sunrises and fresh air are something I always took for granted when I was younger, like most kids tend to do, I suppose. It wasn’t until I lived in New York City and I couldn’t see many, if any, stars, that I realized how much I missed the bigness of a starry sky. Loud, busy cities have their own kind of beauty, but for me, it wasn’t enough. I missed my mountains and my views too much to only see them on holidays and long weekends.
That choice also meant I left behind opportunities. I always loved to draw. Sweaters, dresses, even swimwear sometimes, and accessories. I turned the drawings into actual garments for my Barbie dolls and eventually was making dresses for prom. I adored the moviePretty in Pink. I never had a Ducky, but I definitely had a crush onthatpink dress that Molly Ringwald had spun together. I had tried and somewhat succeeded in making my own for prom but with more of a 90s flair. I was damn proud of that dress at the time.
Awards shows like the Oscars, or the Met Gala are my special brand of porn. When it came time to decide if I was going to take it seriously and go to school to see if my talent could evolve and be nurtured, I jumped. I was homesick for the first semester, so far away from everything I knew, but Manhattan and design school were all I had my sights on at that point in my life, so I was going to do it no matter how much I wanted to run back home. It took the entirety of my four years to realize that while I did have talent, the world was a big place, and talent was subjective. Someone was always better, and the industry that held my attention spit on my excitement enough times that I knew I had to improvise what success for me looked like.
Lizzo croons away through the speakers, stamping down truths like being her own soulmate, and I can’t help but smile while I work away on my latest drafts of loungewear for our spring line. Designing, sketching, and creating something on paper that I can sew to life is truly what makes my heart beat faster. And just because I didn’t follow the path that gets you into a world-renowned design house as a top designer, it didn’t mean I was going to stop doing it.
The styles I’m working on lately are what Law has coined “sexy loungewear.” It’s meant for both men and women to wear right after they come in from outdoor sports. My take is that after an adrenaline-induced session outdoors, it's a shame to throw on an ugly shirt or sweats, but instead to opt for the same comfort just in a cut and color variety that induces a sexier vibe.
Two years ago, Law was so excited to show off my men’s sweats that he and some of his fraternity brothers, after one of their bachelor parties, decided to model them in a few photos on Instagram. One of Law’s buddies is an agent for some pretty hot professional football players, and he shared the photos. Needless to say, it snowballed, and the hype for my men's loungewear started. Our brand of apparel now represents a third of our profits. The online portion of our business exploded and has made Riggs a brand name and not just an outdoor sports company in Colorado.
Law and I decided we’d try to create more hype by pushing the designs to the athletes his best friend had known, and we’ve been growing ever since. The best part is the world has no idea who’s behind it and that’s exactly how I want it to stay. I want to be known for my business skills and take the Riggs name to an entirely new level. I never wanted to be scrutinized for something creative that has a little piece of my heart in it, so everybody wins. I’ve worked hard to be where I am at the company, and to be honest, the apparel is too much fun, too easy to be anything more than a lucrative hobby. The mystery of who designs it all plays in our favor. I get to design, and we make a full profit without having to outsource.
I dig a pencil out of the wet knot of hair I threw up after my gym session with Michael and then make a few changes to the women’s off-the-shoulder sweatshirt in front of me. Thinking about whether I want it to be full cotton or a poly-blend, I look around the space and notice the mess. Jack’s things are thrown around; shirts draped over the couch, a few pairs of shoes in the living room area, camera equipment taking up the full length of the coffee table, and chargers with cords on the side tables.Invasion of my space!
How am I just noticing it all now? The pool house is a 2,000 sq ft room with high ceilings and large windows that overlook the pool, hence why we call it the pool house. My design area is separate from the bedroom, living room, and kitchenette. It runs the length of the north-facing wall and overlooks our back property and the most prominent mountain ridge in all of Strutt’s Peak. The view is breathtaking. It'smyhaven and I’m a little anxious to have a stranger taking it over. Regardless of how hot that stranger might be.
“I’m gone for less than an hour and you’re already working your way into my space, Miss Riggs?” I snap my head up to get an eyeful of a very sweaty Jack Deacon chugging a bottle of water. Keeping his eyes on me, head tilted back as he swallows large gulps, his Adam's apple bobs up and down. It’s like I’m in a damn trance. He walks over to where my phone is perched on my drafting table to turn down the music that’s pumping through the entire pool house.
“Myspace, you mean?”
He gives me a slow, devious smile that runs chills down my arms.
“I thought you were out for the night already, otherwise I wouldn’t be here.” I was just getting into my zone and now I’m interrupted by this distractingly sexy man who’s going to ask me questions that I have zero interest in answering. “I’ll get out of your way. Let me just grab a few things.”
“Went for a run. I’m heading out with Law in about twenty minutes.” He leans back against the counter of the kitchenette, curiously looking at what I’m doing. I throw my portfolio case over my large drafting table to keep him from seeing what I’ve been working on. “Don’t bother leaving. I’m showering and then I’ll be out for the night.”
Too quickly, I respond, “You can shower at our place. That outdoor shower is only fun to use in the summertime.”
He moves to the other side of the room, reaching back and pulling his sweaty t-shirt over his head. I’m assaulted with tight, lean muscles and broad shoulders. His waist tapers inward and my mouth goes dry. There’s not a bit of fat on this man, but he’s so large that he’s still incredibly intimidating. It takes every ounce of my sanity to not let out a nervous giggle in response to how attractive that move just was. And wildly inappropriate.
“The hot water right now is questionable.”
He turns around from his suitcase, which is splayed on the bed across the room. “It’s going to take a little more effort on your part, Miss Riggs, to get me naked and in your shower. I am worth the effort, but I don’t think we should be mixing business and pleasure.” He rakes his eyes over me, and I feel it from the backs of my knees all the way to my shoulders.
I have no words. I’m not sure if I’m embarrassed, pissed off, or just short-circuiting from being so turned on by the forwardness of this guy.
“That’s not…” I get up, shaking my head, and start pushing my designs and swatch samples back into their oversized leather drawing bag. “Believe me, Jack, if I wanted anything to do with you, naked or otherwise, you’d know. But in case it’s not clear. I like men, not boys. And certainly not boys who work for me.” I make my way to the door, and without another glance back at the walking thirst trap, I shut the door behind me. There goes my calm.
I pull my phone from my yoga pants pocket and text G.
Everly:I need you to abandon your plans tonight. I need to drink and flirt. Please?
I know she had plans, but I never say please about either thing. My phone vibrates back almost immediately.
Giselle:Giddyup! Your thirsty bitch is just wrapping up. Meet you in an hour.