“Why would they be flown out if they had just won the lottery?” I ask. I can’t help myself. I need this to make sense.
“It would be in exchange for an interview and a few photoshoots during the trip. People need good news right now. This would be such a feel-good feature,” Chelsea says. “I heard that theTodayshow has been trying to book them, too.”
I take in air to speak, conscious of what my voice might come out like. I need tonotsound like high-pitched Hazel Yen from the press conference.
“TheTodayshow, really?” I ask, overcorrecting too low. I clear my throat. “Interesting.” There we go. I take in a long, slow breath to calm myself. I’m nearly through this. “Well, is there anything else I can get you?”
Chelsea isn’t ready to end our little chat, though. “We’ll keep trying. No one’s featured them yet, so it’d be a huge get and a love story for the ages.” She shuffles forward past more candy jars and towardthe register. “They’d be put up in five-star hotels, and it’s all expenses paid. I don’t know why Hazel and Logan wouldn’t want to do it.”
I might have gasped out loud when she said Logan’s name. I can’t be sure since I’ve gone totally numb. I do know I’m overheating and likely sweating through my shirt, which just might be what ends up giving me away.
“Logan?” Gloria asks, her head snapping back toward us. “Well, that’s just freaky!”
“What a strange coincidence,” Emma chimes back in after helping ring up a customer. Has she been listening this entire time, too?
I force out a laugh. “Yeah. So, so… strange!”
These are all the words I’m good for right now. If Chelsea doesn’t realize it’s me, it’ll be Emma and Gloria.
Chelsea looks between the three of us, confused. When she opens her mouth to say something, Emma asks, “Will that be it for you?”
The line’s getting longer behind Chelsea, who just now realizes this. “Oh yeah. That’s it!” She pays for her ice cream and candy with the tap of her phone. “Emma, so good seeing you. I’ll be sure to tag Sweet Escape in my post. Nice to meet you, Hazel and Gloria!”
Emma rounds the bar to give Chelsea a hug as Gloria turns to me. “Hazel and Logan. Life really works in mysterious ways, huh?” she asks.
“I—I guess,” I start, not sure what I’m about to tell her. A bond has just started to form between the three of us. I don’t want our friendship—is it too soon to call it that?—to include lies. “Gloria, there’s something—”
“You look a little sweaty,” Gloria interjects. “Take a few minutes. I’ll cover for you.” She squints both eyes closed. Was that a wink, or am I now paranoid about blinking?
I nod and turn around, needing a second. That was close. Logan and I really need to be careful where we’re seen together.
I walk up to the window, highly alert. Past the glass, touristspoint their phones up toward the ceiling as commuters fast-walk to catch their trains. As they cross paths, I follow their invisible footprints and let myself wonder about where they might be going. Uptown, downtown? To Long Island? The airport?
I fumble for my phone in my apron pocket.
Hazel (10:31 AM):If I could get us two tickets, all expenses paid, to a place of our choice, where would you go?
Of course I’m not serious, but I am curious. Logan responds right away.
Logan (10:32 AM):The foliage in Japan is supposed to be amazing this time of year. I do find the French Riviera stunning in the fall. Rome, too. I can take you to my favorite gelato place.
Has he actually been to these places? I can’t tell over text if he’s serious or not.
Hazel (10:32 AM):I’m tossing Sweden into the mix for how good their candy is.
Logan (10:33 AM):Yeah, great. I’m not picky with my free trips.
Logan (10:33 AM):What’s the catch?
I smile and write back,Oh, nothing big. We’d just have to be in our lottery disguises the entire time.
Logan (10:33 AM):Doable. I’ll just quickly learn a decades worth of makeup design, BRB.
Logan (10:33 AM):Is there still time to change my answer to Iceland? Lots of layers, clothes. And gloves! Wouldn’t have to worry about aging the hands.
Hazel (10:33 AM):Iceland it is.
Logan (10:34 AM):So you finally checked your messages? Was a scammer convincing enough about a free trip?
