"The artist is a girl," Otis said, pointing to Hazel's signature in the corner.
"Yeah and Archer's girlfriend," Theo said.
"She is not my girlfriend," I countered though a part of me wondered if that would be such a bad thing.
"I certainly hope not," Greg said. He looked down his nose at me and shook his head slowly. "How disappointing. You take after Hunter."
"Hey! You take that back."
Greg glared at me. "You are exactly like him. You can't treat women with respect. You insulted and played a mean practical joke on Hazel, and now she's going to screw over a major business deal. You'reexactlylike Hunter."
"You can't just blame everything on me, Greg," Hunter growled.
"Yes, I can."
I flopped back down on the lawn chair. "I'm not going to end up like Hunter, though. I'm charming and attractive, and I am going to beg and grovel until Hazel does the painting because I have absolutely no shame."
17
Hazel
Itried to stay calm when Olivia dropped me off at the Art Café. As I unlocked the door, I noticed that more demolition work had been done next door on the future Grey Dove Bistro. I tried not to seem morose as a few people trickled in for a drink.
Hazel:I still can't believe Archer was making out with McKenna of all people.
Jemma:She's awful. She was in the general store today complaining that we didn't have a specific flavor of La Croix. Like go back to Manhattan.
Olivia:She's obnoxious. Just concentrate on the art fair this weekend.
I tried to send positive energy out to the universe. It must have worked because I received a notification from the bank that the money from the gallery was deposited into my account.
I sat back in my chair, thinking. Archer had bought yet another one of my paintings. Along with paying me to cook dinner for his brothers, he had been coming through for me. Of course he was probably also coming in McKenna, but it wasn't like I wanted Archer anyways.
Okay, yes, actually I did want him, but not as aboyfriend. I knew he was too out of my league for that. But maybe as an artfully arranged tasting menu?
Thinking about putting my mouth on his bare skin made me a little too hot. I set up a canvas to paint. The idea for the art walk had inspired me. Several ideas floated around in my head. The art walk would be really beautiful, like a fairy path. My imagination bloomed as I started to paint. The path would weave around the sculptures and huge trees. I painted glowing chandeliers hanging from the branches.
I painted for hours, and it grew dark out. I stopped to let the paint set before I did any more work. Though the canvas was looking good, it didn't make me any less annoyed with McKenna.
"Haters mean you're doing something right," I chanted as I lit some candles. I like candles, mainly because they gave me an excuse to burn things.
"Let the negative energy flow out of you," I said, closing my eyes and doing some yoga poses on the cool floor. "I am inspiring the universe, and the universe is inspiring me."
"I'm not the universe, but I am feeling very inspired, though maybe that's not the right word for it."
I shrieked and fell over. Archer grabbed me before I hit the floor and swung me easily to my feet.
"You startled me," I gasped.
"Sorry," he said, face serious. I fussed self-consciously with the buckle on my overalls. I wished I had worn something nicer. Archer's eyes followed my hands as I refastened the strap around the curve of my breast.
"Don't look at me like that," I scolded him. He held up his hands.
"Look," he said, "I'm extremely sorry about the phone call, just like I'm sorry about embarrassing you at the gallery. But I really need your help with a project."
I glared up at him. He was so unfairly tall. His hair hung in his face. I itched to reach up and smooth it back.
"Don't stand there and ask me to help you after you flirt with me then hook up with McKenna," I said hotly.
