Page 31 of Wallflower in Bloom

And maybe she was avoiding thinking about the earlier kiss with Jack.

It was the least she could do for the first-grade teacher who’d taken pity on her when all Violet’s friends had turned against her. When they’d learned how her mom had died, one of the mean girls had started a rumor it was Violet’s fault. That was the first time Jennifer hadn’t stepped up to defend her. Even though it was ridiculous to think a child would cause their mother to overdose.

Violet hefted one more shovel of dirt, digging a hole deep enough for the lavender roots to take hold. Her mind hadn’t stopped racing, no matter how much manual labor she did today.

The porch door swung open, and Ms. McClotskey walked down her front steps with a glass of iced tea. The heat wrapped around Violet, and she was drenched with sweat in the muggy afternoon.

“See?” Violet said, smiling at the lavender bushes now neatly lining the sunny edge of the yard. “They’ll be much happier here in the full sun. Bless you,” she added as she grabbed the large glass of iced tea to chug.

“This looks stunning.” Ms. McClotskey was a vibrant, pretty older lady who insisted Violet call her June, but Violet just couldn’t do it. “How can I repay you? This was just above and beyond.”

Violet pushed her beekeeper-like UV sunhat back. “For the woman who taught me to read, I always have time to move lavender bushes.”

“I was lucky to have you in my classroom. And you seem to be a lucky one, too.” Ms. McClotskey’s eyebrows rose with a knowing smile.

Oh, shoot. Had the gossip mill already finished spreading the word?

“About what?” Violet feigned innocence and took a long drink from the glass.

“The teachers’ group chat said you kissed some hunky man in front of Fox and Forrest today.” She smirked with knowing teacher eyes that said, I know when you’re lying to me.

“Well…” Violet scratched the back of her neck. Crap, crap, crap. What am I supposed to say? Just kidding? It was a one-time thing?

Ms. McClotskey’s eyes softened with a motherly look. “Oh, don’t look so nervous. I think it’s wonderful. You deserve a man who will spoil you silly.”

“Aha!”

Violet heard a familiar voice behind her. Rose jogged toward her, out on a run in her designer workout gear, sweating buckets in the heat.

“Hi, June,” Rose puffed as she slowed to a walk and waved.

“Why don’t I get you a glass of iced tea, Rosie?”

“No, no,” Rose said, catching her breath. “Just on the hunt for this one. We’ll be out of your hair in a minute.”

“All right. Violet, I’m buying lunch next time I see you in the café.”

Violet waved her hand in thanks as Ms. McClotskey walked back inside.

Rose pulled out her phone and spoke as she typed. “Found her…I…won.” She hit send, and Violet heard her phone buzz on the grass where she’d dumped her stuff. “Aaron, Lily, and I bet who could find you first after we found out.”

Violet leaned over to grab her phone and whipped her head up in shock. “Why are there 427 missed messages? Is something on fire?”

“I bet something’s on fire.” Rose snickered and nudged Violet’s leg with her foot. “When were you going to tell us you’re making out with Jack?”

“Look,” Violet said quickly, stuffing her phone in her pocket. “It’s not real. He just needs a fake girlfriend, and I’m not even sure if I’m up for it.”

“A fake girlfriend?” Rose repeated in confusion, stretching out her thighs as they stood in the yard. “Like, the romcoms you watch?”

Violet shrugged, not making eye contact as she finished the last plant. “You know he’s in hot water with work and needs somebody to help. I like to help.”

“Yeah, I bet you do.” Rose snorted. “Hold on; we’ve got to conference in Lily.” Rose hit speaker as she called Lily, who picked up in one ring.

“Ugh, I never win,” Lily whined through the speaker.

“She says it was all fake. She’s going to fake date Jack.”

“No fucking way,” came a screech through the phone.

---