Page 144 of Let’s Make a Scene

“We got you popcorn too,” Arjun says. Priya is sitting on his shoulders, and she beams at me.

“Hi, Auntie Cyn,” she sings. “Do you like your party?”

“I love it,” I reply, taking the bag of popcorn she holds out.

“No reason an intervention can’t be comfortable,” Arjun adds.

“Romantic intervention,” Jack says again a bit desperately.

“I’m not sure saying the word romantic makes it any better,” I murmur faintly, thoroughly confused.

“We saved you a blanket down at the front,” Hannah says, bossily. “Off you go.”

“Just tell me what’s going on,” I plead with her.

She takes my free hand in hers and squeezes it, smiling at me with so much affection in her face. “Just trust us.” It seems there’s a lot of trust involved in tonight’s proceedings. “We’ve got you.”

“Okay,” I agree reluctantly, because at this point what else can I do?

“Oh, and hand over your phone,” Hannah says. “I’ll put it with the others.”

“The others?” I ask.

In response she gestures to a colourful sign in Priya’s handwriting. It says,

by order of manijment! no fones. no kameras. no eggsepshuns!

I guess there’s no arguing with that, so I hand over my phone and let Jack tug me through the crowd. Along the way people keep stopping to hug me. It feels like it’s my birthday, and I don’t hate it; I just wish I knew why it was happening. I also can’t help but feel that this audience is going to interfere with my get-Jack-naked scheme. Maybe we’ll be able to sneak off to my trailer at some point.

“You two are down here at the front.” Brooke appears in front of me. “I hope you understand what a sacrifice it is that I’m not filming any of this,” she whispers to me.

“Honestly, I haven’t got a clue what’s happening.”

She only smiles mysteriously and then points to a blanket that has a RESERVED sign on it. It’s right at the front. The night is warm, and the lights sparkle in an intricate web above us.

“This is so beautiful. Did the crew really do all of this to surprise me?” I ask doubtfully.

“Turns out you’re pretty beloved,” Jack says, pulling me down beside him.

“Oh.” I glance back over my shoulder to where everyone else is getting comfortable. I spy Hattie sitting with Simon and she winks at me. Logan gives me a cheerful wave from beside Nisha, the intimacy coordinator. I can’t help noticing that the two of them look pretty cozy. Jasmine is here too. She’s drinking champagne straight from the neck of the bottle and lifts it in my direction in a knowing salute. I see Lucy, the horse trainer, and half expect to find Reckless Ed somewhere in attendance. There are people here from wardrobe and props and every single other department, and the air is full of happy anticipation. I don’t know what is going on, but I already love it.

“Okay, this is amazing.” I turn to Jack. “But I have to admit, I didn’t think you’d invite quite so many people on our first date.”

He laughs. “Let’s just say our original idea spiraled a little bit. People wanted to get involved.”

I glance around at the outdoor festival that he and my friends have thrown together. “No kidding.” I shift closer to him, lean in. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” I sound nervous because I am.

He takes my hand again. “I know you said life isn’t a fairy tale, and that’s true. But it can still be magic. Not every relationship ends in disaster. Look at Patty and Arjun.” He gestures to where the two of them stand. Priya is still on Arjun’s shoulders, bent over with her skinny arms around his neck so that her head rests on top of his. Patty feeds him popcorn and he nibbles at her fingers, making her laugh. My heart melts.

“Yeah, they’re pretty good,” I agree.

“Liam and David, Hannah’s parents,” Jack says, “Clemmie and Theo. All excellent love stories.”

“Hmmm.” I tilt my chin. “I suppose so.”

“And I know that you’re having trouble believing in this, in us. I know that you’ve been let down, badly, by people you loved, by the people who were supposed to stay.” His voice is soft, his words earnest. “But, Cynthie, I won’t hurt you. I won’t lie.” He looks me in the eyes. “And I won’t leave. I will choose you every day, and I need you to know that. I need you to see that. That’s what’s going on.”

My eyes are swimming with tears, but before I can say anything, Brooke steps up in front of the crowd, to rowdy applause.