Page 150 of A Perfect Fit

More people start to arrive, and when five fifty p.m. rolls around, most of the seats are full. Lucy and her family turn up, giving me a smile and wave when they see me. Then there are my coworkers from The Daily Brew, some former classmates from fashion school, and even Hilary from the Wonderland Marketing Awards, who somehow also bought a ticket and showed up with a date.

But there’s no sign of Jackson.

Time continues ticking, my heart growing heavier with each passing minute.

By five fifty-five p.m., a few other people trickle in—not Jackson.

By five fifty-nine p.m., I’m still waiting for him.

I stare at the empty seat I reserved for him in the front row, a burning sensation forming at the back of my eyes.

We’re not together anymore, so why would he come? I was naive to think he’d maybe still want to support me, even as a friend. Not that I want to be just his friend.

Excited chatter buzzes through the atmosphere, but the one person I want here isn’t.

I blink away the stinging sensation in my eyes. It’s okay. No more waiting, Isabelle.

Even if Jackson doesn’t show up, I’m not going to let that detract from tonight. I’ve worked too hard for this.

Pushing past the pang in my chest, I grab a microphone and walk to the center of the runway, preparing to commence my welcoming address.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see a familiar flash of brown hair.

I do a double take, but I’m not imagining things—or him.

It’s Jackson bursting into the venue and shuffling into his seat, looking out of breath, his brown hair disheveled, like he’s run his hand through it several times. He’s holding a bouquet of peonies, a garment bag, and a paper bag, a TEAM ISABELLE shirt fitting perfectly against his broad chest.

The tension drops from my shoulders.

He came. He made it.

Jackson’s gaze locks with mine, unspoken words swimming in his eyes. I’m so sorry.

I give him a small half smile before tapping my microphone and facing the audience. We’ll talk later. For now, the show must start.

“Good evening, everyone. Thank you all for coming tonight,” I say. “I’m delighted to present to you the latest collection of Designed by Isabelle, called Imperfectly Perfect, which is inspired by my love for florals. Hope you enjoy the show!”

Applause echoes in the warehouse as I step to the side, and pop music blasts through the speakers, an energetic beat bringing the venue to life.

My first model takes the runway, wearing my champagne-gold dress with a design of a Chinese phoenix on the bodice and white flowers sewn throughout the skirt of the dress. There are some oohs and aahs in the audience, and several people grab their phones to take a photo.

And then my second model shows off the same lilac floral dress I wore to the gala, followed by my third model wearing my white floral minidress that was inspired by the cheongsam, and fourth, and so on.

Pride bursts in my chest as I watch everyone rock the runway with their heads held high and shoulders back, wearing the pieces I designed. We’ve rehearsed this so many times, and they’re all crushing it.

It’s surreal to think I was a teenager doodling in math class when I dreamed of hosting a fashion show for the first time, and now it’s happening.

When the show’s over, loud applause thunders through the venue, and I step into the center and bow, feeling like I’m on top of the Empire State Building right now. Adrenaline pumps through my veins as I reach for the microphone again, unable to contain the big smile on my face.

“While Perfectly Imperfect was inspired by my love for florals, I chose this name because it reflected the doubts I’d had in myself over the years. But I’ve learned that there’s no linear pathway to success. No one’s perfect, and as long as we’re putting our all into something, we deserve to be proud of ourselves.

“To host my first fashion show is a dream come true, and I’m here to say if I can do it, so can you, whether that’s career-wise, a hobby, or a passion project you’ve always wanted to start.

“Thank you all for coming and for sharing this special milestone with me. A huge thank-you to my amazing models, team, and loved ones for their support. Hope you all enjoy the rest of tonight!”

Another round of applause erupts, and I scan the audience, seeing large grins on my family’s and friends’ faces. And Jackson’s face, too.

I did it.