Jack
About an hour later,the dinner is wrapped up, and the table cleared. They seem to have the clean-up part down to a structured routine with clearing, washing, and drying while Giselle informed me all about one of the techniques of tattooing she specializes in called watercoloring. When we step outside for a drink, it doesn’t surprise me that the outdoor setup of this place is almost as expansive and impressive as what was indoors.
If someone asked me to name the most incredible place I’ve ever been, I always thought I would say somewhere iconic like a rooftop in Prague, a villa in Tuscany or the beaches in the Cayman Islands, but right now I can’t imagine anywhere that I’ve already been that would top Asher Riggs’ Ranch in Strutt’s Peak. It’s fucking spectacular, and I haven’t even seen it during the day. I can only imagine the light this place gets in the morning, and then during sunset. Everything on the main floor of the house must bathe in perfect honey-colored warmth.
“So, Jack, what's it like to work with some of the best athletes in the world? Are they all just big egos?” Asher asks from his Adirondack chair next to me. We’ve made our way out to the oversized firepit that sits in the middle of the stone patio overlooking his sprawling property, the outline of mountains in the background. The only person still inside is Everly. It was obvious that she was rattled by seeing me since our last encounter, but I also can’t ignore how she leaned into me as I brushed her leg under the table at dinner. I wanted to move closer, but didn’t. I needed to touch her in some way.
“It’s a mixed bag of personalities. There are some more attention-seeking than others. If you can believe it, the men's Olympic swim team is neck and neck with some NFL long-timers. Overall, most of the athletes are incredibly humble, down-to-earth. Minimal assholes. For the body image shoots, these athletes aren’t shy. Most of them have honed their sport, and in doing so, their bodies have become their instruments. They’re all proud of their strength and contours, and that honestly is what makes those issues so good. The confidence behind them. The positions can be…”
I smile and look down into my drink. “The way we ask them to move is uncomfortable, but the result is worth it. And not just from the popularity of them.” I pause for a moment, trying to articulate this without sounding pretentious. “These athletes have such a short window of being able to compete on a national or world stage. It takes their whole lives and then only these select few get to the level they’re at and it’s fleeting. So being in this issue, specifically, is just another way to increase their spotlight.”
“You’ve become friends with a lot of these guys too, right?” Michael chimes into the discussion.
I nod. “Yeah, some of the best friends I’ve got I’ve met through work and are professional athletes. Some retired now, but most are still playing or competing. Henry, you probably met my buddy Shae McKenna a time or two. I know he comes up to Colorado to train pretty often.”
Law coughs on his wine. “Are you shitting me right now? Henry, I’m going to kick you in the sack in a minute.” He turns to me. “Please tell me we can flex this friendly arm and get his agent on the phone? I’d love to get him in some of the winter marketing for next year.”
“Sure. Happy to introduce you guys.”
“Henry Montana Riggs, you better speak now about what other world-class athletes you just so happen to know and have kept from me! I feel betrayed. I mean, c’mon, man!”
Giselle starts laughing so hard she practically chokes. “Henry Montana?! This…this can only be the best day ever. Please, please, tell me that’s your middle name, Hankey? There is so much to unpack here.”
Henry turns his head toward her slowly and leans into her ear, saying something that instantly quiets her laughter and turns her cheeks a shade of pink. I don’t know what exactly is going on there, but whatever it is, it’s pure entertainment.
I hear the sliding door open behind me and I sit a little taller, knowing she’s joining us. An empty chair is across the firepit and part of me wishes she would sidle up next to me instead. Before I see her, I feel her. Her warm breath in the cool night air hits my ear. She smells like oranges and cinnamon, and I swallow a groan. Everly leans down toward me as Law and Michael talk about the famous people he may have come across. “You see that too, right?” She’s looking over at a now embarrassed Giselle and a pissed-off Henry.
I smile and turn my head to look at her, only inches away from her beautiful mouth. “It’s hard to miss,” I say. God, this woman is so beautiful. I keep her stare a minute longer. She has a dimple on her left cheek that I’m just noticing. It makes her even more stunning; sweet mixed with sexy. I bring my gaze back up to hers, and alluring hazel eyes have me stuck. I take a second to enjoy the golden flecks that outline her pupils, morphing with brown and a little bit of green. She looks down at my mouth.See something you like?I can’t help but smile a bit right before I take a sip of the cabernet she poured for me. She realizes what she just did and snaps her attention back, stands up from leaning over, and walks over to the open chair.
“There are plenty of people, rich people, I might add, that want an entire experience. Something that’s an experience beyond a sport.” Law is speaking passionately next to Everly and Henry. I can tell she isn’t buying what he’s selling, just based on her body language alone. She’s not looking at him, staring into the firepit, and dropping sideways glances, which makes me think they’ve talked about this before and it never went any better.
“You’re talking about creative excursions, which are nice. Hell, I’ll go on one, but it’s not whatwespecialize in. It’s not our business model, and, quite frankly, with all the changes we already have a green light to tackle, adding something else seems like an unnecessary risk.”
She can command a conversation, I’ll give her that, but I can tell that Law isn’t satisfied with what she’s shooting down. Everly looks across the pit toward her father, perhaps searching for someone to agree with her.
“Maybe it could be a passion project that he could lead. If you look at it as exploratory, then why not test it out to see where it goes?” Asher chimes in.
“That’s not the point, Daddy. I just don’t see the return on investment we’d have to make. Law, if you want to do it, then give me the numbers and not the fluff.”
“Ev, give me a fucking break here. You know this is a great idea and I don’t get why you’re dragging your heels on it. I mean, if you want to get bitchy, then fine, I’ll meet you there. How’syourpassion project? Who was your cheerleader on that? Hmm?”
“It’s not the same thing and you know it. There was such limited risk and on top of that,Ididn’t want to do it. You were the one who pushed it along.”
“See! I know a good thing when I see it. You’re being too conservative. You know it, and I just don’t get why.” Law seems defeated and looks at me. Damn it, keep me out of this. I get what he’s saying, but I’m not about to get involved here. “Jack, how would you feel about coming to Strutt’s for your buddy’s bachelor party, where the only thing you need to do is have a chat with my team and we plan the whole thing?” He leans forward, excited. “I’m talking about day adventures like heli-skiing and then mountainside cigars and scotch. Then at night, you don’t want a typical raunchy party with tits in your face, so we plan a personal tasting menu at Strutt’s Lodge, a pro-level poker game, and some eye candy. If it’s wanted, of course.”
“Sounds exclusive and expensive, but I’d be all about a guy's weekend like that.” Law looks like I just delivered him his favorite treat after a year of no sweets. And in the same moment, I realize I just stepped into a bear trap and it’s going to hurt like a bitch.
I look across the fire to Everly, and she barely spares me a glance when she says, “Of course, you’d think that sounds great. Hell, I want to go on that trip, but again, that’s not the point.” She huffs. I study her for a minute. “Now imagine your expensive specialized guys’ weekend has one or two guys that are prick drunks who decide they want to be snorting lines of coke and looking to hire hookers instead of just eye candy. We’d be opening ourselves to things I don’t think we’re equipped to handle.”
“Ev, you say shit like this all the time. Why does-?” Law gets cut-off from the question.
“Jack, you can’t tell me that the guys you hang with aren’t looking for more fun by the end of the night. Whether that comes in the form of drugs or girls.” She laughs sarcastically. “I’m sureyouknow exactly what I’m talking about. You are the target audience!”
Are you kidding me?That’s how she sees me. I shouldn’t be surprised. She doesn’t know me, just my reputation, but it still burns. I shouldn’t feel like I’ve been slapped in the face by that comment, but I do. I work hard not to give her any emotional response; I’m too pissed off. So instead, with my jaw clenched, I just look at her and take a minute to decide how to respond. Before I can make her choke back the words she spit like venom, she stands and leans down to her father. “Daddy, thank you, but I’m not interested in hearing any more about this tonight. I’m going to head home.”
Not so fast, princess. “Listen, this isn’t my company, so I don’t know the first thing about the return or the investment involved, and I don’t have the research in front of me to back it up, but I agree with Law. It sounds like a promising offshoot to what you guys are already offering. And just for the record, I don’t do drugs. I don’t monitor what all of my friends do, but the people I choose to spend my time with aren’t the stereotype you just spit out. As far as women are concerned…” I shrug my shoulders. I don’t need to offset her opinion of me in that department.
“Pumpkin, there’s no reason to leave. We haven’t even tried the dessert yet.” Asher leans into her hug.
“I’ll see most of you at home.” She looks at me for a beat, and I want to back her into a corner and kiss the assumptions right out of her feisty mouth. Everly leans down to Giselle. “I’ll talk to you later, love. It’s been a long weekend, and I have some things I need to do before I head home. Text me when you get in, so I know you’re home safe, yeah?” Giselle nods and steals a glance at me. She’s watching as I watch her friend leave.
As soon as the sliding door closes, Law and Michael start arguing about the lingering conversation. Giselle walks over to my chair and sits on the arm. She leans in closer and says, “My rules dictate that I always side with her, even when she’s being an asshole. So, I’m siding with her, but I’ll say this”—she pauses for a minute, perhaps selecting her words carefully—“not many people challenge her or call her out. Even these guys.” She takes a sip of her wine. “So be careful. Once she makes her mind up about someone, it sticks.” After her next sip, she sing-songs, “You may have just made yourself an enemy, Jack Deacon.”
I’m pissed off that she left, but I’m more pissed off at my choices that have led me to this moment. Regretting the reputation I’ve built, because for the first time, I actually care about what someone thinks of me.