Story of My Life

After the meeting, Hazel and Cam sneak away for secret car sex. Hazel craves snacks afterward, and though Cam plans to just drop her off at her home, he cannot stay away. Inside her home, Hazel admits that she wants to change the color of her cabinets from white to blue, which Cam approves of. While on the topic, he shares a list of personalized ideas he’s thought up for Hazel, which will increase the cost of renovations but be tailored for her—such as built-in bookcases and a customized work desk. Cam helps her unpack her books on the shelves she already has set up in her library while they chat. Hazel is excited about having knickknacks in her home, as there wasn’t enough space in New York apartments to collect trinkets. She claims that it sounds like a fantasy to have walk-in closets and storage as she does now, and Cam replies that maybe she is living a fantasy.

As August passes, construction continues, as does Cam and Hazel’s secret, sex-only relationship. Zoey eventually visits to suggest that Hazel send a few chapters to her publisher. Hazel is hesitant to do so because publishers hate when authors work on new projects that are not part of their contract, but Zoey admits that her editor ran into Jim at a cocktail party and that he brought up Hazel’s new novel. Zoey also insists that once her editor reads a couple chapters, she’ll realize that it’s her best book yet and be placated. Zoey delivers better news next, informing Hazel that her social media reach has tripled since moving to Story Lake. Her newsletters have done well, too, with dozens of replies from readers connecting to her personal life.

After a long day of construction, Cam and Gage leave, but Levi makes an excuse to stay behind. Hazel recently received a text from Jim stating, “I heard you were writing something new. Do you really think it’s a good idea to break away from Spring Gate?” (366). She is feeling upset, so she accepts Levi’s invitation to go out for a drink. Though Hazel worries that  Levi might think it’s a date, she doesn’t pass up the chance to learn more about the most reserved Bishop brother. The outing takes a surprising turn when Levi admits that he feels drawn to writing and asks for Hazel’s advice on dealing with imposter syndrome. Hazel assures him that this feeling is normal and encourages him to follow that feeling and write something. She swears not to reveal his secret to anyone.

Cam is bagging groceries at the general store when he overhears customers gossiping about what they believe to be a date between Levi and Hazel. Cam is furious about this development, but instead of admitting his jealousy, he insists that he’s only angry because his brothers warned him to stay away from Hazel while not following their own advice. Cam leaves work to confront Levi and Hazel at the restaurant.

Hazel insists that they are not on a date, but she is unable to tell Cam the real reason why she and Levi are out together because of her promise to Cam. In his anger, Cam claims that he was getting bored of Hazel anyway and calls their arrangement quits. Hazel calls him out for trying to “provoke a misunderstanding that will force [them] to go [their] separate ways” (381). She attempts to communicate with him with clarity and levelheadedness, apologizing for not telling Cam that she was going for drinks with Levi and insisting that she has no intention of seeing anyone outside their arrangement. In return, Cam also agrees not to see other women while their arrangement is ongoing.

After Hazel leaves, Levi invites Cam to his place, where they fistfight. Cam admits to the sex-only arrangement that he and Hazel have, and Levi tells Cam about his interest in writing thrillers, which shocks Cam enough to stop the fight. Levi admits that he didn’t talk to his brothers about this passion because “Bishops don’t talk” (386). Cam begins to realize that he might have messed up things between himself and Hazel.

Still annoyed with Cam’s behavior from the night before, Hazel decides to deploy every weapon in her “feminine arsenal: wardrobe, hair, makeup, and disdain” to make him stew in regret (388). Hazel begins her day by getting directly to writing, but she is interrupted by Levi and Cam, who arrive with bouquets of flowers and apologies. Gage soon arrives with news that Nina has stolen their roofing contractors for an emergency job at Dominion’s city hall by offering to pay them time and a half. When Cam claims that he’d like to steal something back from Dominion for a change, a spark of inspiration hits Hazel, who flees the house, citing “research” as her motive. Hazel spends the day spying around Dominion, and she overhears Nina on the phone with someone. The one-sided conversation reveals that someone inside Story Lake is feeding her information and that her ultimate plan is to absorb Story Lake into Dominion and build a golf course on the land. Hazel travels back to the Bishop Farm, where she informs Laura and Mrs. Bishop—Pepper—about Nina’s phone conversation. She then says that she has an idea about where they can get the money, but she needs their opinion.

Hazel is invited to stay for their family dinner, which she can’t decline. Hazel attempts to hide in Pepper’s office, partly for privacy to call Zoey and partly to hide from Cam before he arrives. She invites Zoey to the dinner and texts her the address as Cam barges in. Though Hazel claims to still be mad at Cam, he refuses to accept this. He kisses her intensely, but they are interrupted by Gage before it can go further.

As Hazel helps the Bishop family prepare for dinner, she shares her idea on how to save Story Lake by stealing tourists from Dominion. Dominion is a busy town “with drunken speedboat races and partying till dawn” (402), so Story Lake should appeal more to parents with little kids, retired couples, and those looking for a calmer retreat.

Pepper suspiciously tells Cam to give Hazel a tour of the farm, giving the two some alone time. Cam instructs Hazel on how to drive a UTV, which they take to the barn to feed the animals. Hazel inquires as to why his mother would send them out alone, and Cam suspects that she knows about them. In fact, he suspects that his entire family and Zoey know. Given that Cam insisted they keep their rendezvous secret, Hazel expects him to be more upset, but he claims that he’s reconsidered his previous stance. Though Hazel asks him to elaborate, Cam states that he doesn’t care to be introspective about why. He enjoys their arrangement, and after seeing her out in public having fun with Levi, he thought that looked like a good time, too.

With the support of the Bishop family, a nervous Hazel prepares to present her idea at the next town meeting, during which Darius plans to share the truth of Story Lake’s financial troubles with the town. Since her brief falling out with Cam, Hazel has noticed that he has gone above and beyond the requirements of his job, crossing items off her to-do list around the house in an effort to earn her complete forgiveness. However, she remains stubborn in making him work for it. When Hazel shares her idea to steal tourism from Dominion by hosting town events that draw visitors, Emilie is a vocal pessimist about it. However, with most of the town believing in Hazel’s idea, they decide to give it a try. Darius names Hazel as the council’s parks and recreation chair and places her in charge of the planning committee for the event they name Summer Fest. Cam offers to become her co-chair and publicly states that he and Hazel are dating.

Hazel is shocked and infuriated at Cam. Though she plans to avoid him still, he bribes her—with her favorite soda and fresh stationery—into coming to the convenience store that night to brainstorm for Summer Fest. When Hazel arrives, Cam invites her up to his apartment, where he has prepared dinner for them. Cam admits that he has changed his mind about not wanting a relationship, and he manages to convince Hazel to give them a chance.

Cam drives Hazel home, where they watch TV while eating ice cream in her bed. Hazel notes the chemistry between Gage and Zoey and mentions potentially setting them up romantically. When Hazel eventually asks Cam what happened to Laura’s husband, Miller, she can see the grief clearly on Cam’s face. He explains that Miller and Laura went out running one day when a young distracted driver ran off the road. Miller pushed Laura out of the way; he died on impact, while Laura survived with a spinal injury.

The next day, Zoey and Hazel go door-to-door to local businesses asking for help for Summer Fest. They are pleased to find that everyone “seem[s] surprisingly invested in beating Dominion at its own game for once” (448). Zoey mentions how happy Hazel looks and heavily implies that it’s due to her relationship with Cam, though Hazel denies this. Zoey points out that Hazel is writing like she did before Jim, highlighting how far Hazel has come in healing from the divorce. That night, Hazel bikes home with a smile on her face while thinking of grabbing steaks to grill for Cam, who “seem[s] like a steak kind of guy” (450). When Cam witnesses her almost get knocked off her bike by someone backing out of their driveway, he becomes overprotective and forces her into a driving lesson, believing that she’ll be safer in a car than on her bike. Though she improves, it is clear that she isn’t enjoying driving. When Hazel admits that she had plans to grill steak instead, Cam secretly texts his family to set up a grill and start cooking at her place while Hazel drives them back to Heart House. Hazel is surprised and touched when she returns home to find the Bishop family and many of their neighbors gathered around eating food that they’ve grilled at Cam’s request. At the gathering, Darius shares good news: The town has managed to secure two full buses of tourists for Summer Fest—a bus of families traveling from Brooklyn and another from a senior citizens center nearby. While they eat, Cam talks to Hazel about things he would add to Heart House if it were his place—such as a deck for the grill, a patio with a fire pit, and an entertaining space with string lights. The vision he paints sounds tempting to Hazel. Cam is shocked and grateful when Hazel agrees and suggests adding a ramp to the area so that Laura can access it when she visits.