Page 51 of Hide and Peak

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Henry

Today began calmly.The snow had just started to fall as I was walking Milo, but now, hours later, a small snow squall is happening outside my office windows and it’s as chaotic as the clusterfuck I’m dealing with inside. To top it all off, now I’m running late. Of all days, vendors want to dish out problems and not solutions. Apparently, everybody worked over the holiday. And because my responsibilities at Riggs Outdoor have grown significantly, I’m the one who has to deal with it all.

“Listen, it’s Winter Sports season right now, which means I need every vendor that was sold out on Christmas to tell me why I don’t have backup inventory. I’m going to have high-profile customers coming in and they want to use the brands I recommend. I can’t recommend what I don’t have in inventory.”

My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I know it’s someone asking where I am.Ignore.

“Listen, I understand, but you’re making this my problem, and it’s yours, not mine. I can’t help sell a brand if I don’t have it. Get it here by next week or I go with someone else. It’s that simple.” I hang up and rush to wrap up a few more emails. The headaches from the success of the holidays began as soon as midnight struck and it was December 26th. That’s what I’m dealing with more and more these days, headaches and spending far too much time behind a desk. Less time on trails and enjoying the outdoors, which was my main focus when Everly and I decided to pivot and work for my dad’s company. Our company.

Now, since my sister had moved her own brand forward, it left our family business in a bit of an adjustment period. It's been a year of filling in for someone that had the largest role at this company. We’ve split her responsibilities, but even then, it’s become overwhelming. Everyone assumes I want to fall into her role, eventually, take over for my dad as CEO, but the only thing I know I want is not that.

I can't think about any of that right now, though. I’m late and I still need to shower, throw on my tux, and be at my sister's house in time to help greet her guests for their wedding reception.

As soon as I hit send on one last email for the day, I’m jumping into my Wrangler and peeling out of my driveway. It’s New Year's Eve and more than anything, our family, hell, the entire town, is ready to celebrate Jack and Everly tying the knot. The fact that they’re already married threw everyone off, but I suppose it was romantic.

For this town, my dad, especially, it was a big hiccup. His only girl not having a huge wedding was the typical small-town gasp, but she’s making it work in her favor. So, tonight she and Jack are hosting a massive New Year’s Eve bash that doubles as their wedding reception. It’s going to be a stacked event, but that’s how we do things in my family. Always over the top and so memorable it’s talked about until we throw the next one. My phone rings over the Bluetooth in my car, Michael’s name popping up.

“Yo, I’ll be there in less than fifteen minutes,” I say before he can get a word in.

“That’s nice, but you need to swing by the house and get me too,” he says.

“Why aren’t you already there?”

“I had to get in an extra workout today. Too much shit is going on in my head and I needed to clear it,” he says honestly. That’s one thing about my brother. He’ll always give it to you straight, even if it’s not the easiest to say, or hear.

“All good. I’ll pull in your driveway in about”—I look at the clock on the dashboard—“six-ish minutes. Be outside. Ev is going to be pissed if we aren’t there before other people start arriving.”

As soon as I hang up, my phone rings again.

“Dad, I’m on my way right now,” I say.

“I’m running late,” he says.

“You live next door.”

“And I’m not there right now. I’m running late. Are you there yet?”

“I’m on my way to get Michael, and then we’ll be there. Where are you?”

“I just needed to wrap something up. I’ll be there not too far behind you. Tell Law to calm down. He’s already called the police station when I wasn’t there an hour ago. Such a pain in the ass,” he says.

Less than twenty minutes later, we pull into Jack and Everly’s round-about driveway. Their house is massive. More space than I would ever want to keep up with. It sits on a ranch with property sprawling at least three miles in each direction. Technically, next door to my dad’s ranch, though you’d never know since you have to drive five minutes or walk twenty to even see his place. Jack purchased the place from our family’s friend in an effort to win my sister back. It worked. Or at least sweetened the deal. And the house is almost as over-the-top as my dad’s. It turned out that Jack, though he came into town doing a job for our family business as a photographer and brand manager of sorts, was packing a massive financial portfolio of investments. He would never say it out loud, but my brother-in-law is a billionaire. And you’d never know it. He can be a real asshole if he wants to be, but to us, he’s more than alright. And now, he’s family. Needless to say, they’re not going to spare any expense tonight.

They have a valet service parking cars, so I toss my keys to the young kid wearing the heavy coat and dress pants. “Make sure you come in to warm up after guests arrive. Don’t stay in this cold.”

He catches the keys and nods. “Yes, sir, Mr. Riggs. Hey, Michael.”

I look at my brother, wondering how he knows this kid.

Michael nods. “See you at the wall on Monday, Jonas. No drinking.”

My brother, for as anti-social as he can be at events, always makes time for the local high school and college kids who are interested in climbing.

This small snow squall this morning managed to drop just enough powder, so that everything looks crisp and fresh. As soon as Michael and I round the front of the car, we’re met with a skulking Law.

“Um, what the fuck? Is being an hour late like the new thing?” Law says, standing on the porch, foot tapping away. “You know Dad’s not even here yet. Good thing Ev and Giselle are tucked away in the guest house getting ready. Jack and the staff are the only ones in the main house right now. And that crazy agent of his, Luce. She fucking scares me. I’m pretty sure she just hired a hitman. I was eavesdropping. Maybe not. It could have been. Never again.” He waves his hands around like he’s stressed. Always so much drama with him.

I blow past my brother and into the house. It’s bustling with people moving furniture, hoisting up chandeliers. It’s only 5 p.m., and the place is decked out and ready for the biggest party this town has seen in a long time. The back of their house is a full wall of windows, and now, since it’s winter, they’ve extended the outdoor tent to be connected. The massive tent is draped in dark velvets, green or blue, I can’t tell from where I’m standing. It looks like a mess, but I can guarantee that it’ll be flawless by the time the first guest arrives.


Tags: Victoria Wilder Romance