Page 113 of Wallflower in Bloom

“Jack and I decided to make our relationship…” Violet avoided their eyes as she traced her hand on the counter. “...not fake.”

“Pay up.” Rose opened her palm to Lily.

“Goddamnit. I always lose these things.” Lily rolled her eyes and pulled out her phone.

Rose leaned against the counter. “Gray and Nash lost, too. Remind me to collect their 20 bucks.”

“How did you know?” Violet was shocked. She hadn’t even known until a week ago before the event.

“It was so obvious,” Lily said, snorting. “Even if I did pick the wrong date.”

Violet let out a long sigh. It was incredible and horrible being known down to your DNA. “You didn’t answer my question. How did you know Gray was the one?”

Rose shrugged. “Simple. He’s seen me at my worst, and he loved me anyway. I think he maybe loved me because of my worst.”

“You mean when you’d yell at him and then kiss him a whole bunch?” Lily laughed as she rearranged the chocolates in one of their displays.

“No, when I was petulant and mean and so desperately sad. He saw all the good, despite all the flaws. It’s worth hanging onto someone who loves you despite knowing how you may disappoint them.”

The door to Bloom rattled.

“Welcome!” the three of them said automatically, and Jennifer walked through with one of Jennifer’s close friends.

The familiar chant of no one wants you, no one wants you sounded in Violet’s head. Like a flash, she remembered the buried memory. In first grade, all the kids had chanted at her on the playground after her mom had overdosed.

She studied Jennifer with this new friend. She was so different with her, giggling and smiling. Violet was always the first to reach out to Jennifer, always the first to offer to help. Never the other way around.

Jennifer slid her sunglasses up onto the top of her head. “Hi, Violet,” she said as Violet placed houseplants on a display. “Congratulations on all of the buzz you’re getting.”

Well, that was nice.

“Thanks,” Violet said, smiling back. Maybe all the issues were in my head. “I had a lot of fun. Hopefully, got some buzz for the store.”

“You know, you’re so brave for going in front of the cameras,” Jennifer said, touching her arm as if giving her thoughtful advice.

“Brave for what?” Violet cocked her head.

“You know, going in front of all the cameras and looking like…” She paused. “You know,” she said quickly, smiling, not quite meeting Violet’s eyes.

Was she trying to say it was because Violet was plus-size?

Her friend piped up. “I mean, you called Jack Grant a fig bush. That’s so awkward.” She and Jennifer laughed in the way Violet remembered. The laugh that said we’re not laughing with you.

“Let me just run up to the front to get this,” the friend grabbed a plant. As she neared the front, Rose unplugged the cash register.

“Oops,” Rose said, dead-pan. “Guess you’ll just have to get the fuck out of our store.” Rose’s cold eyes moved from the friend to Jennifer.

Their jaws dropped.

“You all just think you’re better than everyone else now,” Jennifer said with a sour face. They swirled around and walked out of the store.

Lily walked over and hugged Violet. “You know they just call her Jennifer because ‘stick up her ass’ isn’t allowed on a birth certificate, right?”

Violet shook her head. “I don’t even know what just happened.”

“We got a case of the mean girls.” Rose shrugged. “Good thing I have a lifelong case of the bitchy older sisters.” She smirked and plugged the cash register back in. “You can’t let her talk to you like that, Vi.”

“You know me. I have a hard time with confrontation.”

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