I nod in confirmation. “It literally couldn’t get worse.”
She brushes her thumb along the side of the canvas. “I’d like to have it.”
“Then it’s all yours,” I say. “But I won’t be held responsible for nightmares that may occur.”
A laugh bubbles out of Hazel’s throat. I wish I were better at art, for no other selfish reason than to paint this moment of her sitting on a picnic blanket under the Brooklyn Bridge as we attempt to chase a little luck. I want to capture all of her, every single detail, in every vibrant shade this canvas can hold.
But it’s more than that, I think. I don’t want just portrait-level with Hazel. I really do want to know everything about her, and the only way I can do that is for us to spend more time together. If that means I have to continue being unlucky to do so, then so be it.
Maxwell rushes back to us. “Thanks for waiting. There was a last-minute cancellation at a restaurant I keep putting myself on the waitlist for. It’s finally paid off!” He rubs his hands together. “Now, where were we? Mindset is just the beginning.”
Chapter 14
HAZEL
Unknown Number (6:46 AM):Happy birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
First, the spammers get my number, now they have my birthday? When will it end?
Unknown Number (6:47 AM):For the record, that’s 30 exclamation points. One for each year of your life, which deserves to be shouted about.
Unknown Number (6:49 AM):(I fully recognize how excessive and annoying you’ll probably think that is. I’m not sorry!)
Hazel (6:55 AM):Logan?
Unknown Number (6:56 AM):Oh, sorry, yes. It’s me. It was fun feeling popular for a second but then the calls just got annoying.
I add Logan’s new number to my contacts.
Logan (6:57 AM):I was sad to lose my 206 number, though.
Hazel (6:59 AM):Some people say you’re not an official New Yorker until you have a 917 area code.
Hazel (7:00 AM):BTW, that was more exclamation points than one should have to see this early in the morning.
Hazel (7:02 AM):But thank you.
Logan (7:04 AM):No rules on birthdays. I know you don’t celebrate, but maybe you’d be open to acknowledging it?
Logan (7:07 AM):If you are, please select from the following answers:
A: It needs to be low key
B: It needs to be low effort
C: It needs to be low cost
D: It needs to cost a lot
E: I’m open to a surprise, just this once
F: I’m not open to anything, but thanks
I’m not in a festive mood—let alone an acknowledging one—yet I’m smiling as I scan the list. I have my box of De Cecco spaghetti, my résumé, and a list of potential questions the hiring manager might ask me in my interview in a few days. I’ve decided to go for the manager role, since I’ve basically been managing people my whole life. But hey, this job pays more.
I’m about to send option F. I stop myself before I do.
Every year I’ve spent my birthday with pasta and a movie. Those were plans I could count on.
