Page 110 of The Comeback Summer

He’s right, of course; I know that intellectually. But it’s so difficult to break out of an established role—not just as business partners, but as sisters. Libby’s always been the trailblazer,the leader. Since the day I was born, I’ve watched her, how she interacts with the world, molding myself around her.

“Talk to her,” Josh urges. “Tell her how you feel—”

“She’ll be upset—”

“Maybe.”

“Definitely.”

My stomach cramps at the thought of her reaction. Standing my ground with Libby about Josh was difficult enough. I don’t know if I’m strong enough to bring up anything else.

He kisses my head. “All I’m saying is that you should give her the chance to support you.”

I run my hands through his hair, gently scratching his scalp, and he closes his eyes and gives a contented sigh. My mind drifts back to our conversation on the Ferris wheel. I wish Josh had givenmethe chance to support him back in college. That feeling of being blindsided, of realizing that he’d planned a huge change without telling me, was the worst part.

My sister deserves better.

“I’ll talk to her,” I say eventually. Then, in a teasing voice: “How much do I owe you for this therapy session?”

He chuckles. “How much will you give me?”

“Anything,” I say. “Everything.”

He rolls me onto my back, pinning me down with the delicious heaviness of his body.

“You know I’m in love with you, right?” he says. There’s a dark heat in his eyes that makes it difficult for me to breathe. “I never stopped loving you, but now I’m backinlove with you.”

“That’s good,” I say, “because I’m in love with you, too.”

He kisses me, a deep, melting kiss that leaves me breathless. But when he pulls away, I swear I see tears in his eyes.

I touch his cheek, concerned. “You okay?”

His eyes fill with a raw pain that strikes my heart like a knife. What is he not telling me?

But then he blinks and it’s gone.

“Being with you,” he says, “is the only time I feel like I’m home.”

I understand what he means—being in the right place with the right person at the right time. A sense of wholeness, like everything broken has been restored.

“Thank you for coming back to me,” I tell him.

And then I do the only thing I can do in that moment: I bring his mouth to mine, and I close my eyes and let myself free-fall.

Crush Your Comfort Zone

THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE COMPANION JOURNAL

WEEK 10

Thousands of years ago, fear was essential. Fear told us to run away from predators or stay away from a cliff. It kept us safe and alive. But in our modern world, we are rarely in actual, physical danger, so fear isn’t keeping us safe anymore. It’s holding us back.

Today, think about something you want to do, but haven’t. If you had no fear, would you do it? What if you decided to do it anyway... even though you’re scared?

Hannah, 8/7

The first thing that comes to mind is working on my own projects, without Libby. More than just the work for Serena and Preeti; building a whole career of my own. But whenever I think about that, a whole bunch of fears rush through my mind. I’m afraid of hurting Libby, first of all. Afraid of ruining our relationship.

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