Page 98 of Have To Be Mine

“Yep.”

This was it. This was the moment that would define everything. My moment. Sink or swim. And I was an excellent fucking swimmer.

“Listen up!” I shouted, my voice carrying over the sound of rain hammering against the tents. “I know this looks bad. I know we’re all wet and miserable and you’re probably thinking we should pack it in and go home.”

People stopped moving. Models with makeup running and hair flat against their scalps all looked at me. I had all eyes on me. This was my moment.

“I didn’t come here to quit. I didn’t spend weeks planning this show, coordinating every detail, and working my ass off to make this perfect just to let a little rain stop us.” I gestured at the runway. “This is a Blackwell show. And Blackwells don’t quit.”

I saw something like pride flicker across Adrian’s face.

“So here’s what we’re going to do,” I continued, pulling off my jacket and tossing it aside. “We’re going to embrace this. We’re going to make this the most unforgettable runway show anyone has ever seen. We’re showing off swimwear. It’s meant to get wet!”

I kicked off my shoes and socks. My shirt was already clinging to my chest, my pants soaked through. I probably looked ridiculous. But I also felt alive. Invigorated.

“Who’s with me?” I called out.

For a moment, nothing happened. Adrian and Briggs looked like they were debating which hospital to check me into. Then one of the models stepped forward. She was wearing a robe over her first outfit, her hair wet and in thick curls. She wasn’t wearing much makeup, or it had melted off.

“I’m in,” she said. “Not like I can get any more drenched than I already am.”

Another model joined her. Then another. The crew started talking among themselves. The influencers were buzzing. This was content gold and they knew it. A fashion show in the rain, snatching victory from the watery jaws of defeat? This was going to break the internet.

“Lighting crew!” I shouted. “I need you to angle those rigs straight up. I want the light hitting the rain. Make it look like diamonds falling from the sky.”

Everyone got moving. When the lights came on, the effect was stunning. The rain caught the golden light, making it look like a blessing instead of a curse.

“Sound crew, get those speakers under cover but keep them running. We need music.”

They nodded and got to work.

“Models, you’re going to walk this runway like you own it. Rain or shine, you’re goddesses. Act like it.”

Hair and makeup were moving in. I had been on enough sets to know they could cement that makeup on their faces. It would take a sandblaster to get it off, but we could deal with that afterward.

When I turned around, Adrian looked stunned. Briggs was grinning, which was a strange look on him. Mom had her hand over her mouth. Elizabeth was bouncing Bucky, who seemed delighted by all the chaos.

“Dash,” Adrian said, stepping closer. “This is insane.”

“I know.”

“It’s also brilliant.”

“Thanks.”

“You need help?”

“I need someone to manage the front of house. Make sure our guests are comfortable. Get them towels, umbrellas, whatever they need. Make them feel like they’re part of something special instead of just wet and miserable.”

“On it.” He turned to Briggs. “You’re with me.”

“Mandy,” I called out. “I need you to coordinate with the models. Make sure everyone knows the running order.”

“Got it!” She was already heading into the model tent.

I turned to find Callum watching. “What do you need from me?”

“Social media,” I said. “Get those influencers organized. Have them livestream this. Tweet about it. Post stories. If we’re doing this, we want the whole world watching.”