Page 79 of Little Miss Fortune

I prepare to be asked about the juicy details of our illegal-in-the-eyes-of-HR doings, when she asks, ‘What do you mean by mildly unlucky?’

‘Oh.’ I am taken aback and then try to formulate my explanation. ‘In Japan, when you go to a shrine, you get an omikuji, a fortune on a piece of paper. It’s split into health, love, school, travel, and other things. Next to them, there is a score of how blessed you are: big blessing, middle blessing, small blessing, small curse, middle curse, big curse.’

Everyone is listening intently, nodding along. Not in a polite-English-nod way, in a please-continue way.

‘I have my own system that looks at luck as a whole: big luck, small luck, small misfortune, big misfortune. I kinda sort people into those categories. I’m mildly unlucky.’ Toby puts a beer in front of me. ‘Or not! Thank you.’

‘This is fascinating. I have so many questions. So... like, are all pretty and rich people lucky?’

‘No. Conditions of birth do not count. Neither do skill or appearance. I am talking about random events. Like...’ I think for a second. ‘Like a die roll. People who are lucky will roll more sixes than the average person. People who are unlucky will roll more ones. People who are lucky can still roll a few ones, and people who are unlucky can still roll sixes.’

‘So, you take the average?’ Kinley asks.

‘Correct. Toby, for example, has small fortune. I know he’s minted’—gets a strong laugh—‘but if there is a competition in a supermarket, he will randomly win something insignificant... like detergent. I would not win anything because there is no negative possibility. But if there are low chances of rain—I will get rained on, and Toby will not.’

‘So, like, in theory... you can quantify luck numerically. If we sit down for long enough, and I make you and Toby flip coins for hours—’

‘Please do not do that to them.’ Chloe shudders.

‘You bloody know she will, as well,’ says Freja.

‘Can luck change?’ Zaria completely ignores the rest of the table.

‘I think it can.’ Toby smiles at me.

‘It’s his working theory. I did something very fun and carefree today, so my luck has potentially improved.’

‘Fortune’s expensive smile is earned.’ Freja nods.

‘Precisely.’ Toby clinks his glass. ‘Good ol’ Emily D. So, what did you do today?’

‘John was involved.’ I test the waters.

Toby’s carefree smile fades, gradually replaced by a scowl. His friends laugh and point at him. I guess they were right about him being an open book. I pull out my phone and present John’s creation to the table. ‘You lot went to Oxford. What do you see?’

‘Oh goodness.’ Chloe, Freja, and Zaria laugh. Toby’s mouth is gaping. Kinley scrunches his nose uncomfortably.

‘What? What is it?’ Isaac brings the phone closer to his face. ‘Is it the name?’

‘Please be honest right now, man.’ Zaria kisses her teeth.

‘John filmed this?’ Toby asks. ‘Steven was fine with that? Did he throw—’

‘A Specsavers joke? Of course he did. But anyway, the whole team didn’t see the very obvious vulva.’

‘Oh, I see it now.’ Isaac hums.

‘So I basically took charge to reshoot it.’ I explain what had to be done and all the failures that we went through.

I answer some questions that the table has, about the type of equipment we used, types of bulbs. Kinley whistles with an approving nod when I mention Peli cases.

Toby is silent. I catch him staring from the corner of my eye. He is leaning into his fist; a satisfied smile floats on his face. When I look back, he straightens his back and grins away from me. Under the table, his warm hand squeezes mine. I blush but squeeze it back.

With each passing conversation, I relax. I can’t believe I was worried about Toby’s friends. They are going out of their way to make me feel included, explaining all of their jokes, asking me what I would have done if I had been with them when one or another event took place. Even Chloe exchanged a few jokes with me.

The pub quiz starts. Our team (that we called the GIN-dependent source) gives the pen and paper to Chloe, who apparently has the most eligible handwriting. She asks me whether I want to do it, but I inform her that spelling isn’t my strongest in either of my languages, and she chuckles, accepting the responsibility. The first round is pretty easy: the capital of Canada, largest ocean, smallest planet in the solar system. We are given ten minutes to answer ten questions. GIN-dependent source do so in seven.

Next round, pop culture. I am not great at it, Toby—weirdly good. Which pop singer joined Queen: Adam Lambert. Last Twilight book is called...