I shook my head. “No,” I said. “I’ve been too busy building it.”
Samaya gasped dramatically.
“I’ll take some,” Mom said. “Turn around, Tahira; there’s a dirt stain on that side of you. Don’t you have a clean shirt?”
I groaned.
After some pictures, Mom and Dad started talking about the other competitions in the festival. “The floral arrangement contest had some lovely pieces,” Mom said. “Reminded me of the ikebana class I took when I was in school. Rowan, I was surprised that you didn’t enter your garden in the Best Garden contest. Your yard is much nicer than the pictures I saw of the winners.”
Rowan shrugged. “It never occurred to me to enter. I only wanted to do the Bloom.”
“Well,” Mom said. “It’s good you have Tahira now because she’ll help you strategize which opportunities can help with your long-term—”
“Mom,” I interrupted. I needed to get my family off the Bloom grounds. “Can I walk you back out to the festival? We really need to finish this.”
Miraculously, they agreed, and I walked them to the front of the field.
“Did you call the bookstore for that book?” I asked once we were out of hearing range from the others.
Mom shook her head. “I tried, but the person in charge of the signing wasn’t in yet. I’ll try again later.”
“Okay. Let me know when you have it confirmed. Leanne’s going to kill me if June doesn’t get the book.”
Samaya’s eyes brightened. “Are those two dating? Because Leanne was totally looking at Juniper with gaga eyes.”
“No...at least I don’t think so. But...they are...something.”
“Adorable. I’m shipping them.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “We all are. I need to go. Talk to you guys later.”
I waved goodbye and went back to my team.
The loudspeaker letting us know our time was up sounded just as I was adding some final golden grasses to the bodice. I put my hands down and took a breath. We were done.
The sculpture wasn’t perfect, but it was pretty damn good. Actually, it was spectacular.
Arms came around me. Rowan. I leaned back, wedging my head between his neck and shoulder. “You did it, Tahira.”
“Wedid it,” I corrected him.
He kissed the side of my neck, and I closed my eyes. “We’re a great team,” he whispered.
I couldn’t agree more.
Bloom contestants and spectators were banished from the Bloom grounds so the judges could deliberate. We were told to wander around the rest of the festival and come back in one hour, at 2:00 p.m., when they would announce the winners.
“Okay, what now? Funnel cake?” Leanne asked, clearly still hyped up on adrenaline. She did not need funnel cake.
My sister came toward us, a clear plastic tray of mini Bakewell tarts in her hand. “Have you guys tried these things? They’re phenomenal!”
I chuckled, taking a tart. The others did the same.
Samaya turned to me. “Mom just called the bookstore again, and they’re not doing personalized signing unless you’reinthe store. She needs to know if you want her to order a nonpersonalized one.” She put another tart in her mouth.
Oh no. Juniper wasn’t going to get her signed book. My heart sank. I felt terrible.
I frowned at Leanne. “I’m so sorry.”
