“Yes. Is there something wrong with that?” I’d already gone through and answered a bunch of emails and now was working on the design for the show. We’d had a meeting and one of my new interns, Alice, had suggested (go figure) an Alice in Wonderland garden party theme. As soon as she said it, ideas started going off in my head like fireworks, and it was all I could do to hurry and write them down. A lot of the effects would be created by the video screen, but I also planned to have teacups lining the runway, and two columns with vines on them. It was all going to be super cool and quirky. The perfect backdrop for the lingerie.
“No, not at all. I just haven’t seen you smile in a while.” What was a while?
“Yeah, well. I had a good weekend.” I bit my lip to keep myself from grinning too much. If I told her what I’d done with Ryder, it would sound silly. There was no sex, and the only kiss I’d gotten had been on my forehead. That didn’t matter though. Ryder and I had a connection I couldn’t explain. One of the things that had initially attracted me to him was how comfortable he made me feel, as if we’d known each other for years, or even a lifetime. Maybe past lifetimes too.
“Good for you. What did you do?” I told her that I’d spent time with Ryder and then about Rory’s tear-away lingerie idea.
“That actually isn’t terrible. They make those nursing bras that have Velcro or hooks on the straps so you can take them down. What if we took that and applied it to lingerie? I can’t believe no one has done this before.”
“Oh, they probably have. But it hasn’t caught on as a trend yet. I think we might be able to change that.” The only problem would be showing it on the runway. Unless the models were wearing bodysuits or something. I didn’t mind a little bit of nudity, but I didn’t want to push things too far in that direction and turn it into a strip show.
“I think it’s awesome and you should definitely do it. Oh, do you have the sketch for the set yet? Kendra’s been asking for it.” Kendra had a company that would do all my larger set pieces. We’d become friends in college when she’d been majoring in set design.
“I’m almost done. I’ll have them by lunch.”
“Oh, and don’t forget, we’re doing the model casting.” Shit. I had forgotten.
“Right, right.” I was in such a good mood, I didn’t even pretend to shoot myself at the idea of a model casting.
“I’m glad you had a good weekend,” she said before she shut the door and left me to my work.
Yeah, me too.
~*~*~
I was late getting home from the studio. I’d been on the phone with Kendra talking about dimensions and materials and costs. The show wasn’t going to be cheap, but she thought she had some things she could paint and repurpose for me.
I’d texted Rory and said I wouldn’t be around for dinner and she should go ahead without me. As soon as I set my bag down there was a knock at the door. I opened it since I was standing right there. Rory had a somewhat shocked look on her face.
“Did you know about Ryder wanting to go to Colorado?” Well, hello to you, too.
“Uh, yeah. He asked me about it this weekend.” She came in and started pacing around the room. Uh oh. She was amped up.
“I don’t know what to do. Ryder clearly wants to go, and he asked Lucah if he’d loan him the money.”
“Yeah, the place is expensive. What did he say?” I really hoped he’d said yes.
“He said he had to think about it, but I really think he should do it. Ryder seems sincere this time. Like he really wants to do this. And this is the first time he’s wanted to do something like this and researched it on his own.”
“So what’s the problem?” I asked.
Rory sighed and stopped pacing. “Lucah’s just been let down so many times, and I think he’s tired of it. But if he doesn’t give him the money, I’ll do it.”
I wanted to throw my arms around her. There were a lot of reasons she was my best friend.
“You would?”
“Well, yeah. It’s not like he’s asking for money to start up a crack den. He wants to get help.” I’d pretty much said the same thing.
“Stubborn redheads,” I said, shaking my head at Lucah. “Well, I told Ryder if he didn’t get the money from Lucah, I’d give it to him. He pretty much refused, but he can’t stop me if it comes down to that.”
Rory smiled at me. “I figured you’d say that. But I’ve got this. And I think Lucah will come around. He just needs a little more time, or maybe some more convincing. I’ll see what I can do. Anyway, I just wanted to ask about that. So, how was your day? How’s the show coming?”
I told her about my ideas for the show then asked her about work. We talked for a while, and Rory seemed reluctant to go back to her place.
“I want to give them enough time to sort things out. You know how they can be.” Yup. They’d yell for a long time, and that would be followed by periods of steely silence. For two people who didn’t seem to have much in common, they certainly did in their fighting styles.
“Got it. Do you want anything?”