Hazel
So before we meet in person for our date…
Hazel
I have a confession.
Bryce
Oh god. You’re a spambot aren’t you?
Bryce
I knew your profile pic looked too good to be true.
Hazel
I’m just not who you’re meeting on Friday.
Hazel
Think of me like a matchmaker.
Hazel
My boss pays me to find eligible guys and set her up dates.
Hazel
She’s…pretty famous.
Hazel
If she used a dating app herself, she’d be recognized.
Hazel
That’s bad for press, you know?
Bryce
Can’t have the general public thinking you’re a regular person.
Hazel
Now you’re getting it.
Bryce
So when we texted all day yesterday…
Hazel
I was forwarding your messages to her and responding on her behalf.
Bryce
Wow. I feel sort of played.
Hazel
A famous singer is interested in you.
Hazel
Enough to pay her assistant to text you.
And checking out cute guys all day?
But the moment she mentions her famous boss…
The guys always completely change their tone.
Angling for their 15 minutes in the limelight.
Bryce
Singer. Is that a hint? 😏
Hazel
Crap. Pretend I didn’t say that.
Bryce
😂 don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.
Bryce
So whose photos are those on the app, then?
Hazel
No, that’d be too obvious.
Hazel
They’re my pictures.
Bryce
Well, at least one thing about our conversations was real.
Hazel hesitates, confused.
This isn’t how guys normally respond when she breaks the news to them.
Bryce
I thought I was talking to you.
Bryce
When you said your perfect date would be us taking photos together in Central Park…
Bryce
Then comparing them later to see each other’s points of view?
Bryce
Was that your idea, or hers?
Hazel
But she approved the suggestion.
Bryce
And the cute Husky photos?
Hazel
But I take care of him most of the time, while she’s away.
Bryce
How often do you play matchmaker for her?
Hazel
Not often. She’s usually too busy touring.
Hazel
But she lives here in NY.
Hazel
And she’s home for a whole three months now.
Bryce
…is that another hint? 😉
She’s not supposed to give personal details!
She’s never slipped up before.
Hazel
Please don’t try to figure out who she is.
Hazel
She doesn’t like her dates to know until she meets them.
Hazel
She’s been betrayed by guys reporting her location to the paparazzi.
Bryce
You realize that just makes me want to guess even more?
Hazel
I’ll be screwed if she finds out I told you this much already.
Bryce
Okay, I promise not to guess.
Bryce
But only on one condition.
Bryce
You meet up with me first.
Bryce
To talk all this over in person.
Hazel’s heart skips a beat.
Hazel
Normally I do her dry cleaning on Thursdays…
Bryce
Time to start researching singers in NYC on a 3 month break from touring.
Bryce
Singers with huskies who have been caught by the press trying to meet dates…
Hazel
I’ll make Thursday work.
Hazel waits by the fountain in Central Park.
She’s toying with her hair, nervous.
She’s set her boss up with cute guys before.
Watched them ride off together in a limo to enjoy fancy rooftop galas.
But she’s never met the guy in person herself.
She checks Bryce’s profile pictures again.
So she can recognize him, she tells herself.
Really, she just likes looking at his broad grin, intense green eyes, and muscular arms.
There’s a few snaps of him taking photos around the city.
An aspiring photographer, just like her.
But her favorite is the pic with his dog, an adorable Golden Retriever.
It’s like he knows dogs are her kryptonite.
If her boss doesn’t date this guy immediately, she’s nuts.
Bryce
Checking me out, I see?
Hazel startles and looks up, straight into the same green eyes on her phone screen.
Hazel
Oh. Hi. I just, er…
Hazel
I wanted to make sure I’d recognize you.
For a moment, Bryce just looks at her.
Hazel runs a hand through her hair, still nervous.
Hazel
Not what you expected?
Bryce
On the contrary. You look even more beautiful in person.
Hazel feels heat flood her cheeks.
Bryce smiles and then motions his head toward the lake…
And they begin walking together…
Falling into step side-by-side.
Hazel keeps sneaking sideways glances at him.
He’s even hotter in person.
Hazel
So, you wanted to meet because you still had some questions about all this?
He pauses beside the lake and reaches into his saddlebag to pull out his phone.
He opens Snapchat, looking sidelong at Hazel…
A slight quirk to his lips.
Bryce
I just want to catch this…
She watches, suppressing a smile, as he takes a photo of a couple on one of the paddleboats.
They’re splashing each other with the oars, laughing.
Hazel watches over his shoulder as he adds some filters.
Hazel
Nice shot. You’ve got a good eye.
Bryce sends her the Snap, then nods at her.
For a moment, Hazel doesn’t understand.
Hazel
What is this, practice?
She shakes her head, laughing, but she pulls out her phone anyway.
A few paces later, she spots a kid eating ice cream.
She takes a Snap, right as the whole ice cream falls off the cone…
The kid’s tongue sticking out mid-lick.
Bryce
Now that’s a depressing mood.
Hazel
Not my mood at the moment.
She covers her mouth, surprised she let that slip.
But Bryce just keeps smiling.
He takes a step closer to Hazel…
Until they’re face to face, just inches apart.
Bryce
I have a confession.
Hazel swallows hard, her heart racing as she meets his gaze.
Hazel
If you’re about to tell me that you’re the one who’s a spambot after all…
Bryce laughs and lifts his hand to tuck a stray curl behind her ear.
Bryce
I’m afraid you’ll have to tell your boss that our date for tomorrow is off.
Hazel licks her lips, unsure why they’re suddenly so dry.
Or why, when Bryce touches her cheek…
It feels like her whole body is on fire.
Hazel
Really? Why’s that?
Bryce
Because I don’t want to date her.
Hazel’s eyebrows shoot up her forehead.
Hazel
Don’t you even want to know who she is, before you decide?
Bryce
I want to date you, Hazel.
Her lips part in surprise.
She says it without even thinking.
Her cheeks flush bright red.
Bryce, on the other hand, just shakes his head.
He leans in, and she lets her head fall back as his lips brush hers, lightly at first…
Then deeper, as she kisses him back, her mouth parting beneath his.
He wraps his arms around her waist, pulling her against him.
She flings her arms around his neck…
Lost in the hard crush of his mouth and his piney scent.
When they break apart, she’s breathless, and laughing.
Hazel
Guess this makes me a pretty terrible matchmaker, huh?
Bryce looks worried all of a sudden.
Bryce
I’m not going to get you into trouble for canceling, am I?
Hazel
It’s okay. My boss has canceled plenty of dates like this herself.
Hazel thinks for a second.
Hazel
But it would help if you knew some hot, eligible guys.
Hazel
Specifically, one who could be trusted not to Snapchat his whole date with her.
And slides his hands into hers…
Gently pulling her to his chest.
Bryce
Don’t worry, I have the perfect friend in mind.
Hazel raises a thoughtful eyebrow.
Hazel
Maybe I should tell my boss to hire you instead.
Bryce
Hey, if we’re lucky—
Bryce
Maybe none of us will bother with that dating app again.
Bryce
At the very least, I hope you and I won’t need to…
He leans in to kiss her again…
And Hazel smiles against his lips.
The matchmaker made the perfect match.
