36. Violet
Chapter 36
Violet
I stare at my reflection in the mirror, watching as Poppy curls a perfect strand of my hair and then lets it bounce free.
“You’re gonna look so hot,” she announces, squinting at my hair like she’s sculpting a masterpiece.
In the nail chair beside me, Cami tosses a handful of peanut M&Ms into her mouth. “Yeah, and then you’re gonna get up on that stage, blow everyone’s minds, and make Walker realize what an absolute dumbass he is.”
Maggie sighs, lifting her sweet tea dramatically. “Beautiful."
I huff out a breath, trying to feel excited. I should be nervous. I should have butterflies, the same kind that nearly ate me alive before the performance at The Black Dog. But I’m not nervous.
I’m depressed.
God, this is worse than nerves. At least when I was anxious, I could work through it. But this? This weight sitting heavy in my chest? This ache? This is missing Walker so bad I can’t even stand it .
“You know,” I say, my voice too dry, “I don’t think ‘hot’ is really the goal tonight.”
Poppy raises a brow, twirling another section of my hair. “No?”
I sigh. “The goal is to raise money for Cami’s ranch, not seduce the entire town of Bridger Falls.”
Poppy smirks. “But why not both?”
Cami nods solemnly. “Exactly. Multi-tasking, babe.”
Maggie pats my shoulder, smiling. “They’re right, sweetheart. You deserve to shine tonight.”
I wish I felt like I deserved it. But the only thing I feel is exhausted. I’m about to perform in front of the entire damn county, and the only thing I can think about is how Walker isn’t going to be there.
I’m singing a few of my own songs, then one final one… The one we wrote together.
If I can even get through it.
Just thinking about it pricks tears in my eyes, so I blink hard, willing them away. No crying. Not today.
Mack perches in the salon chair beside me, swipes a grape lollipop across her tongue, and kicks her feet onto a footstool like she’s watching a live drama unfold. “You know, you might wanna get it together before you hit the stage, Violet. You're like a sad panda.”
I groan, dragging my hands down my face. “I’m perfectly together.”
Mack deadpans. “You just sighed so hard it altered the air pressure in the room.”
Poppy laughs.
Cami hums. “Yeah, and you keep looking at yourself like you just got dumped before prom.”
I glare. “I did not get dumped. ”
Maggie sips her sweet tea. “So, you’re saying there’s still hope?”
I open my mouth and then shut it again. Because I don’t know. Because Walker and I haven’t spoken since everything happened. Because maybe I was dumped. I just didn’t get the official text message.
Mack senses my spiral and pops her lollipop out of her mouth with a dramatic smack. “Alright, sad girl, let me distract you with some piping hot tea.”
Poppy lifts a brow. “Oh?”
Mack grins. “Stella came to the bar.”
Silence. Then, collectively, all of us turn to stare at her.
“She what?” Cami says, nearly choking on her M&Ms.
Maggie presses a hand to her chest like she needs a second to prepare for this emotional burden. “Oh, Lord. What did she want?”
Mack grins, licking her lollipop again like this is the greatest story she’s ever told. “She told my dad that she saw the video and then said she wanted to talk to me.”
I stiffen, feeling protective. “Mack…”
Mack waves me off. “Don’t worry. I handled it.”
Cami leans forward. “Define handled it.”
Mack shrugs. “I told her she’s a DNA donor, andthat she needs to crawl back to wherever she came from.”
Silence. Poppy cacklesso loud that I jump.
Maggie gasps, then clutches Mack’s face in her hands like she’s just witnessed a miracle. “Sugar, you didnot.”
Cami throws a fist in the air. “MVP. MVP.”
I choke out a laugh, shaking my head. “I'm glad you told her how you feel.”
Mack beams. “Oh, I wasn’t done.”
Poppy leans forward in herchair. “Oh my God, there’s more? ”
Mack grins like the little devil she is. “I told her my dad braided my hair, drove me to soccer, bought me pads when I got my period, and held me when I had bad dreams. And that he was my parent. And she was nothing.”
Silence.
Awe.
Maggie sniffs loudly, dabbing at her eyes. “That’s my girl.”
Cami lets out a low whistle. “Damn, Mack. You annihilated her.”
Isit there, my heart somewhere in my throat.
Mack stretches her arms, completely unbothered by the emotional destruction she just delivered. “Anyway, she left town.”
I blink. “Wait. Just like that?”
Mack nods. “Yup. But, uh… unfortunately when she left town, the paparazzi showed up.”
Cami groans. “What? Where?”
Mack points out the window. “One of them just walked into Harvest & Honey. They’re mostly camped outside my dad’s driveway. And by the cabin. Watching everything.”
Maggie groans. “Lord, I need more than sweet tea for this. Walker must hate this.”
Mack shrugs. "They keep asking for Violet."
I frown. “But they don’t know where I am?”
Mack smirks. “Nope. You’ve been paparazzi-free at Cami’s.”
Poppy peeks outside. “Uh, hate to break it to you, but I think we’ve been found.”
We all whip our heads toward the window. Across the street, two guys with cameras sit at Harvest & Honey, pretending to eat sandwiches while zooming in on Boots and Bangs .
Mack sighs dramatically. “They’re like ants. Crawling all over town.”
Cami squints. “Should we go over there and accidentally spill a drink on them?”
Poppy grins. “I like how you think.”
Maggie stands up, smoothing out her blouse. “I’ll handle this.”
We all stare at her.
Mack grins. “We’re about to witness some real Bridger Falls hospitality, huh?”
Poppy nods. “Do you think she’s gonna bless their hearts or threaten their lives?”
Cami sips her drink. “Honestly, both.”
I watch Maggie march out the door, chin lifted, shoulders back, on a mission. And for the first time in a long time, I laugh. Because I might be sad. I might be missing Walker like hell.
But this town? These people?
They’re gonna make sure I get through this.
One way or another.
I step onto the stage, the lights blinding for a second, the roar of the crowd louder than I expected. From up here, I see the Ferris wheel and rides moving and people laughing. Stalls and booths are set up, and banners and bunting flutter in the breeze. The world continues on around me, and I feel like the nerves are about to take over. I’m struggling not to let them. I know what I need to do for Cami.
I look out into a sea of people—some faces I know, some faces I don’t, but all of them here for something bigger than me. Bridger Falls has transformed for the country fair, located just outside of town. People have come from all over for the fair, and normally this would be my favorite thing. But not now, not when my heart is hurting.
I’m here for Cami and forWilder Ranch. For the place she’s poured her heart into, the land she’s spent sleepless nights trying to save.
I grip the microphone, clearing my throat, trying to push through the weight in my chest.
“Wow,” I say, scanning the crowd, my voice shaky but strong. “This… this is incredible. First, I want to say thank you for coming. For showing up for this community. For proving, yet again, how special Bridger Falls is.”
A murmur of cheers and applause ripples through the audience.
I glance over at Cami, standing off to the side, arms crossed, blinking way too fast like she’s trying not to cry.
“Wilder Ranch isn’t just a ranch,” I continue. “It’s a place of history. Of memories. Of dreams. And Cami has big ones—big, beautiful dreams for turning it into a place that serves this community. A place where kids can ride, families can gather, and life slows down just enough to remind you of what matters.”
More cheers.
Cami sniffs loudly, flipping me off from the side of the stage, and I laugh. “She’s gonna kill me for getting all sentimental up here, so I’ll shut up now and sing.”
I take a deep breath before launching into my first song. And for a while—just a little while—it feels good. I tell stories about the songs, making the crowd laugh and watching their faces as they connect with the lyrics. I forget, just for a second, that my heart feels like it’s been ripped in two.
But then?—
Then, it’s time for the last one.
I take a breath. My throat tightens. I already know how this is gonna go. I should’ve cut it from the set list. I should’ve chosen something else. But this is the song we wrote together, and even if it breaks me, I need to sing it.
"Alright, this next one is a special one. You might have seen a video where this one was performed. Anyway, I hope you like it. It means a lot to me," I say, pretending to be able to breathe. Because right now, I'm struggling not to cry.
The first few chords hit, and I physically feel it in my chest. The crowd hushes, the weight of the moment settling over all of us. I start to sing. And it’s like ripping open a wound in front of everyone.
Every word, every note, it’s all him. Even though he’s not here, I feel him. His voice in my ear that night, his fingers brushing mine on the guitar, his whiskey-colored eyes watching me like I was something precious.
By the last line, my voice cracks. Tears burn my eyes, spilling over before I can stop them. I let the last note ring out, my chest heaving, hands trembling.
I wipe my face, laughing weakly into the mic. “Well. That was embarrassing.”
The crowd erupts, but it’s all a blur. I sniff, swallowing down the ache in my throat. “Thank you for supporting Wilder Ranch.”
I step off the stage, my legs wobbly and my heart shattered into a thousand pieces.
And then—then I see them.
Standing backstage, waiting for me. My parents.
Maggie steps forward first, smiling through watery eyes. “Surprise, baby girl.”
I freeze. Then I’m in their arms, sobbing into my mom’s shoulder, my dad rubbing my back, whispering, “We’re so proud of you, Vi.”
Later that night, we gather around the kitchen at Cami's farmhouse, eating leftovers and laughing, the weight of the night finally settling.
I feel lighter, even with the ache in my chest.
Mack bursts through the door, grabbing a handful of fries from Cami’s plate before even saying hello. “How much money did you raise? Did you save the ranch?”
“We haven’t officially got the numbers yet, but it was awesome!” Cami smiles at her and pulls her in for a hug. “How did you get here?”
Mack grins and says,“Dad dropped me off.”
Silence.
I set down my drink, trying to peek out the window with no one noticing. “He didn’t stay?” I ask, my voice smaller than I want it to be.
Mack shrugs. “He didn’t think you’d want him to.”
My stomach twists.
Maggie exhales softly.
“But,” Mack continues, swallowing the last of her stolen fries, “he did ask if you’d come over tomorrow.”
I blink. “What?”
Mack shrugs again, but I see a little smirk forming. “He said to meet him in the barn. Noon.”
The room goes quiet. Everyone watches me. Waiting.
My heartbeat stutters. I exhale, trying to steady myself. Because I don’t know what tomorrow is gonna bring. But I know one thing.
I’ll be there.