Page 115 of The Comeback Summer

“Libby?” I turn toward my sister, using my eyes to transmit my questions:Who is this man and how do we know him and why didn’t you tell me he was coming by?

Libby spins in her chair, taking her earbuds out. Her mouth falls open. “Adam?”

“Adam?” I repeat, confused.

“Libby?” he says.

I spin back around to face him. “Oh,Adam.”

“Hannah?” he says. The bewilderment on his face has melted into pure shock.

He must recognize me from the dating app—I almost forgot Libby used my picture when she was talking to him. As me.

I glance at the flowers he’s holding; Libby wasn’t home when I went to bed last night, though she was there when I woke up.

Interesting.

“We’re sisters and we work together,” I say, pointing between Libby and me. I’m thrilled that Libby has been brave enough to move forward with him.

Adam gives an awkward laugh. “I’m sorry, but this issucha weird coincidence. Libby, I matched with Hannah on a dating app earlier this summer.” He’s looking at Libby now, an earnest expression in his eyes, like he doesn’t want to upset her. “We never went out or anything. I had no idea she was your sister.”

“Wait—you didn’t tell him?” I say, spinning back to face my sister.

Libby’s gone white as a ghost.

“Tell me what?” Adam says behind me.

Libby stands, taking a few slow steps forward like she’s walking toward her executioner. “Adam, I... I can explain.”

My stomach drops: he didn’t know Libby was messaging him from my profile. That he was talking to her all along, never me. She never told him.

“Explain... what, exactly?” he says.

Libby takes a shaky breath. “I’m Hannah on the app.”

“You’re—huh?”

“I messaged you on the app as Hannah—”

“Why?” he asks, blinking.

“It’s part of the challenge we’re doing,” I cut in, wanting to help. “I had to go out with twelve men in twelve weeks, but I hate meeting new people, so Libby volunteered to message the men and set up the dates. I had a work emergency the night we were supposed to go out, and then I got back together with my ex-boyfriend, so it ended up being a moot point. Anyway, Libby went and introduced herself to you.”

Adam’s still staring at Libby, like he’s trying to make sense of all of this.

“But they gave you an extra cookie,” he says to her. “And then you gave one to me.”

I don’t know what this means, but Libby must, because she bites her lip and winces.

“I thought that was just a coincidence—” Adam shakes his head, then says in a lower voice, “I thought you actually wanted to talk with me that night.”

“I did!” Libby protests, her eyes widening. “I do.”

“Youwere the one messaging me on the app?” Adam’s forehead wrinkles in confusion.

Libby’s big, brown eyes are full of apology. “That’s how I knew you’d be at the café. But then I met you and...”

She trails off, shrugging helplessly.

---