“This is like a Rorschach tea test,” Hazel mutters. “If we don’t see it, does that mean it won’t come true?”
“You will still have an adventure,” Bo says, “but I’d avoid flying if I were you.”
“Avoid laddersandplanes? For how long?” I ask. “What else do I need to steer clear of?”
Bo collects the teacups, indicating that our session is up. “I’d give it a few months to be safe” is all he says.
Based on the half-hearted way he states this, I’m never flying again.
“That’s it! I wish you a very happy life,” Bo says, waving. “Thank you! Good night!”
And just like that, Hazel and I are back on the streets of Chinatown.
But this time, I have the bad fortunes.
I give Hazel awhat did I tell youshrug. “See?”
“If that doesn’t prove that it’s all nonsense, I don’t know what will,” Hazel says, but her voice is shaky.
“What it does tell me is that I’m not reading too much into what happened this week. I feel… relieved.” What I don’t tell her I feel? Stressed and confused. Also slightly panicked.
Hazel looks confused. “You’re relieved?”
No. I feel like I just overpaid for bad news.
“Well, I at least feel like I didn’t make it all up,” I say. There’s some truth in that. “I also…” What’s the word? Comforting isn’t it, though for a few moments there it felt nice to believe that someone had the answers for our situation. “I appreciated the clear guidance. Wendy didn’t give us that.”
She lifts a brow at me. “Guidance feels generous. He loosely told you what to avoid and couldn’t even give a firm timeline.”
“If it saves me, I’ll take it,” I say. “My luck is just temporarily on hold until I can figure out how to get back on track. It’s all going to be fine. I got this.”
Hazel opens her mouth before closing it again. I can see her reworking her choice of words. “You think you can get your luck back on track?”
“I have to before previews start,” I say.
“When’s that?”
“At the end of next month. For the crew, previews are practically opening night. Lines and songs can still get cut between previews and the official opening night, but for us, the set is pretty much done. That’s when we need to be ready.”
“Okay,” Hazel says, thinking. “There’s still time. A lot can happen in a month.”
“You’re probably right, but this show’s too important to me, and especially to Mrs. Walker,” I say. “Her late husband wrote it, which is why she’s worked really hard to get it made.” Also, she changed my life. I need to make sure this show is the best it can be. I refuse to be the one who ruins it.
Hazel takes a step closer, the colors of the lanterns above us playing off her smooth skin. “Look, Logan. For what it’s worth, I still think it’s all made up,” she says. “Not even the best fortune teller in the world can get predictions one hundred percent right.”
A tired smile crosses my lips. “Maybe it’s all meaningless, but in the off chance it’s not, we can’t have my bad fortunes compromising anything.”
Hazel shakes her head. “Like what?”
I take the lottery ticket out of my wallet.
“Like this,” I say, handing her the ticket. Given everything, it’s best if she hangs on to it. “We need to get that money.”
Chapter 7
HAZEL
Turns out, we’re not the only winners.
