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That I’m an upcycling fashion designer at heart, and a marketing wiz at best, and my craft needed to be shared with the world.
It’s time to live my dream like my sister lives hers.
Like Cedar lives hers.
“Ari,” I pull myself from my thoughts and turn to find my sister buried behind the lens of a camera aimed right at me. “Let me call G.”
I smile at her but shake my head.
“It has to be you, sis.”
We stand in Aurora’s recently rented studio as movers parade in through the door with boxes of costumes and different props she’s used in the past. It’s on the darker side, we’ll have to have more lighting set up for her, but it’s the perfect venue for both of us.
“But he has more of a following than me.” She almost whines as she snaps pics of the move, one subject, in particular, catching her frames more than she’ll admit.
“And you being mentioned on my site will help you with getting more exposure, too. We gotta start somewhere, right?” She glances back at me over her shoulder when her subject has trailed off away from her, and smiles, but keeps snapping photos.
Honestly … I’m hoping to avoid G as long as possible. I currently have an unopened email from him including questions about the pictures he took that day that I’ve yet to look at. I can’t. I won’t. And I don’t think he’ll understand that. Nor would my sister.
“Would it be wrong to ask him?” I scoff when her question brings me back to thehimthat carries in another box of décor and I busy my hands unpacking a nearby tote.
“Considering he’s followed you around for the last two weeks, I don’t think he’d mind.” The guy’s name is Jonathon, who happens to be a local jack of all trades I guess. Which somehow includes amateur modeling or something like that. He showed up when we called for maintenance at the last studio about a month ago, came back around a few days later to give over acard with his model name on it, and has found ways to weasel in around my sister ever since. “Just tell him to come with us.” I nod at Jonathon when he traipses in with another heavy load that flexes his arms and sends my sister’s jaw to the floor.
His eyes find her over the box, a slight flush darkening his cheeks.
It’s cute how endearing he is to her. He’s shy but definitely interested in Aurora. It helps that he’s hot, over six feet tall, built like a brick house, and displays a few tattoos.
Even I’d be interested to see what’s underneath.
“Oh, whatever.” She says to me and rolls her eyes, pretending like she doesn’t already know how into her he is, but moves on to snap pics of something else. Her lack of acknowledgment sends Jonathon’s shoulders drooping, but his gaze coming to mine.
“You need anything, Ms. Aria?” Jon’s eyes leave mine for a beat, going to the opening door, only to dismiss Cedar’s entrance and come back to me.
“I’m good, Jon. You don’t have to keep checking in.”
“Oh, um, before I forget … “ He fumbles around in the open box just to his side and comes up with a thin package not much bigger than a sheet of paper. “This came for you while I was unloading.” Handing it over, I turn the stiff package over in my hands and shrug. “Hope you don’t mind that I signed for it.” I give him a smile when he nods and turns on his heels to fetch another box from the moving truck outside.
Probably another fucking contract to sign.
“I still can’t believe you guys are going to be right next door.” Cedar waltzes in like she owns the place, donning one of my originals, comes right up to me, and throws her arms around my shoulders.
“I know, I’m stoked.” We share a quick squeal, a longer squeeze with her cheek smashing into mine, and Aurora snaps a pic of us.
“So,” Cedar leans back to address our sister. “I’ve got a client finishing in about an hour. I need you there for photos.” Aurora nods her agreement and takes off to prep. “I gotta get back, I just took a quick break to come see you assholes.” She grins at my exasperation, smacks a kiss on my cheek, and wanders off as quickly as she came in.
By client, she means a tattoo. And by photos, she means that my sister is taking all the pics for her tattoo shop to post online with credits to Aurora, too.
We’ve interwoven all of our passions to create a monster career for each of us and I’ve never been happier.
I check the tablet in my hand after tucking the parcel behind it, the screen showing we’re ahead of schedule for the move, and I post a social media comment to express as much to the following we’ve gained over the last few weeks.
Once we open the doors, Aurora is booked for the next three weeks straight. Cedar has clients lined up longer than that, and my site where we sell my creations has exploded.
It’s been a long six weeks, but we’re making waves.
After Cedar’s appointment tonight is finished, we’re going out to celebrate. We allowed a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors to decide who got to choose how we honor the occasion and unfortunately, Cedar landed us tickets to a concert in the town over from us.
Wondering back to my office that I share with Aurora, my face buried in my tablet so I can scroll socials and share content for each of our pages, I huff when my ass lands in a chair that wasn’t there twenty minutes ago.
