Page 107 of The Comeback Summer

“Something almost happened,” I admit. “But I stopped it.”

“Why?” Hannah asks.

I shrug, not wanting to voice the possibilities that have been running laps around my mind: wondering if he was actually attracted to me; if he wanted to pursue a relationship or if he was just caught up in the moment. Maybe he’d had too much to drink and I was conveniently there.

Scott breaks the silence. “A few years ago, I hooked up with a guy who wasnot hot.”

I choke out a laugh. “Am I supposed to be the not-hot guy in this story?”

“Irrelevant,” he says. “As I was saying, he was short, had more hair on his chest than his head. He had a gap in his teeth and this weird laugh, like ‘he-he-he.’ But I couldn’t take my eyes off him.”

“Like a freak show?” I ask.

Hannah tweaks my side, so I stop talking and let Scott finish his story.

“Listen, what the guy lacked in looks, he made up for in confidence. He believed he was all that, and every single person in the room believed he was, too. When you’re confident—”

“I’m not confident,” I say, stating the obvious.

“Gurrrl,” Scott says. “You should see yourself when you’re in the zone. When you’re working an event or a conference room, you’re on fire and you know it. You’re magnetic. If I swung your way, I’d totally do you.”

“Uh, thanks?”

“You’re totally welcome,” Scott says. “But my point is that physical attraction can grow out of emotional attraction. You just have to own it.”

Before I can respond, Great Scott leans over and gives mea kiss on the cheek, then pops up and grabs his towel (which he’s kept perfectly dry by sitting on mine).

“I’m off, chickadees,” he says, imitating Lou’s voice. “I’ve got a pro-boner client of my own to attend to. Toodles!”

And with that, he’s gone. Leaving my sister and me in the wake of his unsuspecting wisdom.

“I was totally the ugly guy in that story,” I say once he’s out of earshot.

Hannah sighs. “I wish you could see yourself the way I do.”

“With scraped palms and knees,” I say, showing her my battle scars from the last few weeks of training.

“Those are signs you tried something new,” she says. “It shows you’ve got grit, and that you’re brave. It’s all part of what makes you beautiful.”

“You just think that because you love me,” I tell her.

“You’re easy to love,” Hannah says. “And if Adam is as great as you’ve said he is, he’ll see that, too.”

“He’s that great,” I agree. “But Ireallyscrewed up.”

“You know, there’s this thing called second chances...”

I glance over at my sister, who has a dreamy smile on her face. “I’m sorry I haven’t asked how things are going with Josh. But it’s kind of obvious—you’re glowing.”

“That’s just sweat,” she says, playfully wiping her brow.

“No, it’s happiness,” I say. “And I’m happy for you.”

“Wait—are you actually being supportive of my relationship with Josh?” Hannah asks, not bothering to hide her shock.

I press my lips together. “I wouldn’t go that far. But if he keeps making you happy, maybe I’ll consider forgiving him. In a few decades.”

Hannah laughs, playfully knocking her shoulder against mine.

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