And that’s just the physical attraction. I can’t even allow myself to remember what it was like to talk to him for hours. But since I’m feeling all sorts of buzzed right now, I’m going to allow just a smidge… It felt like the coziest blanket in the safest place on the coldest day.
Fuck, I’m drunk.That’s my only excuse for letting my mind go down this rabbit hole of a Henry Riggs pep rally. Because he’s off-limits.Harden my heart, swallow my tears,like that 80s song recommends.
So instead, I’ll make him uncomfortable with some sexual innuendos, get him to back off at bit, and then throw him into the friendzone.Way easier, right?
“Listen, Hanky, you should know I don’t seek permission. For anything. But if you want to come by, I’d be happy to show you how to swing a sledgehammer.” I give him a broad, obnoxious smile. As he shifts his stance, my eyes travel down, and look at the very impressive bulge in his pants.Oh, Mister Riggs, is that a giant dick in your pants, or just extra turned on when I talk to you?
He blinks at me. Watching as I objectify him, very blatantly at this point.
Law interrupts our silent little showdown. “Are you two flirting?”
Henry turns his head slowly to Law. It’s kind of frightening. Like Law just poked the bear, and the bear is about to rip his head clean off his body.
But the perceptive idiot just continues. “Listen, if you’re flirting, I could see it. You two are like polar opposites, and there’s something to be said for that. I’m just a little caught off guard. Ev, are you catching this? I’m intrigued. Disappointed, because you know, G, you’re fire, but still I’m intrigued.”
Everly chimes in, “Law, read the room, and be quiet.”
He scoffs. “Fine, whatever. Everyone is so uptight. Dad. Dad? Dad!”
“Right here. I’m just about to toss some cheese on these late-night burgers,” Asher yells back. I don’t know how we managed to find ourselves here for burgers and booze well after midnight, but I’m not mad about it. “G, you’re sure you only want grilled cheese?”
“YES! I’ll help,” I yell. “Plus, I like tossing things.” I wink at Henry. And because I can’t help myself, as I walk by, I ghost my hand across his ass.Yahtzee!
A couple of hours later, I’m tucked into one of Asher’s guest rooms, underneath what might be the softest comforter, surrounded by pillows, and practically hugged by the Riggs Outdoors branded guest pajamas.Who has guest pajamas? Asher Riggs, apparently. Friggin’ magical.
I feel so welcome here. A group of people I didn’t know just a week ago have folded me into their lives. It’s wonderful and terrible all at once. Wonderful in the fact that my new best friend is incredible, and it feels like I’ve known her for my entire life. Her family is hilarious, warm, and fun. All of it is just so easy with them, well, except for one glaring, six-foot-something beauty. He’s the most complicated situation, and I have no clue how I’m going to navigate it. How do I stay away from someone I want nothing more than to be around?
Tonight I realized three very important things: I have undoubtedly found my people, I should never throw glitter on a woman named Ruth DeMaio, no matter how much she might have looked like she “needed it,” and I have to come up with a real plan on how to keep my mind off of Henry Riggs.
14
Henry
“There hasto be another way to approach this. We compete against other tourist towns in Colorado, but that doesn’t mean we have to do what they’re doing in order to keep up. We all know people will go to Aspen or Breckenridge to snowboard or ski, and then maybe hit up Strutt’s if they get another go of winter sports while the powder is still falling, but we’re never going to be someone’s first stop unless we offer something different.”
“Henry, you don’t have to convince me. I’m supporting you on this,” Everly says as she types out a text. “You need to take some of the new board members out and get them hooked. If you say Snowcat, they’re not going to understand the feeling of finding fresh, private snow trails, or how the adrenaline hits as soon as you land mountainside on a helicopter. You have to show them. Take them out, plan the entire adventure the way you’d want it. That’s the only way they’re going to approve the ad spend we need to turnover more customers.”
“You don’t want to do traditional ad spends for that either. You’ll want to host some social media influencers on a trip out here. Have them post about it, vlog the new excursions. But you need to pick people that have the right audiences.”
I look in the rearview mirror at Law, since what he’s suggesting is a route we hadn’t considered. “What’s the spend going to be on something like that?” I ask.
“I can work something up. It’ll depend on your target. Think about three different groups of people you’d consider an ideal tourist. Then, from there, we look at who those types of people are following on social media. My recommendation would be to couple that spend alongside a big winter sports brand, say that we already carry, and coordinate a campaign where they shoot photography and stuff here too.”
“Baby brother, you looking for a job?” Everly says, as we both look at each other. The current marketing consultant we have didn’t even broach the topic of partnerships or social media influencers. We’re paying for ideas that we don’t have the experience to come up with on our own, and our kid brother just eclipsed a seasoned marketer.
“Nah. Not yet. I’m going to Don Draper the shit out of the Boston advertising scene first. Then I’ll be primed to do some damage back here.”
Everly and I both laugh. “You do realize, Don Draper wasn’t the brains behind the operation. He was the dude getting drunk and cheating while his secretary was the brains,” Everly says.
“You didn’t watch the show, obviously. But you make a fair point,” he says.
“Also, that entire advertising universe being portrayed was during a time when men were just…”
Law cuts her off, “Okay, that was the worst example. All I’m saying is I want to be a badass on my own for a bit and then be able to bring something great to the family table.”
I smile at that and catch him looking back at me in the rearview. I keep my emotions in check with him, so when he catches a sense of approval from me, I know he basks in it. “You’ve got a lot to learn, little brother.”
“Except the part where I just schooled your ass on how to capture a better audience with your ad and marketing spend. Hell, I’m still an intern and I just influenced the shit out of your winter marketing program. So, you’re welcome. I’ll send you my bill.”