Page 105 of Wallflower in Bloom

“No,” she said suddenly, standing taller. She remembered watching the red carpet coverage of the festival 15-some-odd years ago, never dreaming she’d see somebody like her with him. “I need to do this.”

It was easier to be brave—to be yourself—if it helped somebody else be themselves.

Jack nodded, kissing her hair as he led them to the entrance. “You’ve got this. I’m so proud of you.”

A realization hit as she stepped one foot onto the carpet.

I’m proud of myself, too.

Chapter

Twenty-Two

VIOLET

As they stepped onto the carpet, Violet had an out-of-body experience. Her soul floated beside her, watching her walk the red carpet with her dream man.

And dang! I do look pretty good, her soul thought.

Camera crews and photographers crowded in rows along the red carpet. Hundreds of fans lined up behind the lights and cameras. A thunderclap of screams went up as Jack raised a hand in greeting, his broad, happy smile in place.

Violet snapped out of her trance and remembered to throw her shoulders back. She took up space and smiled as big as she could. Her eyes were trained on Jack; she was the girlfriend, not taking up the spotlight.

“Jack! Jack!” photographers called. He turned and waved, his hand always in hers or on her waist. He gave different camera crews their shot. “Plant mom! Plant mom!” a couple of photographers yelled. “Over here!”

“Holy clover.” She spun to Jack in shock. “They said my name!”

“Here.” He positioned their bodies so she was in front.

Shay had prepped her for this, and she tried to remember her instructions. ‘Look bored but smug. Like you have a secret.’ She tried to look bored and pouty, but a laugh of happiness burst through. I’m doing the impossible, and it’s kind of…fun.

She couldn’t stop her grin from radiating and heard the shutter of photos being snapped. She and Jack posed a few different ways, with him murmuring silly nothings in her ear to keep her laughing.

They finally walked to the end of the carpet near the theater entrance, but two red-carpet interviewers flagged them down for the fan live stream.

Violet thought she’d stay off camera, but Jack interlaced his fingers through hers and pulled her with him.

“I don’t know,” she whispered, her stomach ping-ponging with nerves.

“You’ll be great.” He squeezed her hand. He wrapped his arm around her, and a stunning blonde woman holding a microphone came up next to Jack.

“Jack Grant, Lord Eagleton himself. We’ve loved watching your silly side this summer. Oh my gosh, hi!” The host peeked around Jack to see Violet behind him. “Come on. We need both of you.” She pressed her ear, getting something from a producer off-camera. “Yes. So many of our viewers now know you as the famed Plant Parents.”

Jack squeezed Violet’s waist protectively. “We’ve had a lot of fun working together.”

Violet nodded, unsure what to say without sounding like a giant weirdo.

“Now, what I’m desperate to know,” the bubbly host said to Violet, “is if Jack Grant was a plant, what would he be?” She stuck the microphone in Violet’s face.

She silently thanked the universe for a fun and easy question where she could be herself.

“Oh, that’s easy,” Violet said with a smile. “He’s a fiddle leaf fig tree. He’s tall, good-looking, trendy, and kind of a diva.”

The co-host threw her head back and laughed. “Any response?” She held the mic to Jack.

“She’s the expert, and I am, indeed, quite a diva.” He laughed, squeezing Violet.

They extricated themselves from the camera as the co-host found another person to interview.

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