Page 46 of The Comeback Summer

ADAMR:Ouch. At least there’s room for improvement?

HANNAHF:I guess. How about you?

ADAMR:Well, it was a 6 out of 10... but now that I’m talking to you, it’s jumped to an 8

Swoon.Who knew numbers could be so damn sexy? As much as I want to type back something cute, like “What would it take to get it to a 10?” I don’t. Because if I do, and Adam responds with something like “You coming over for dinner tonight,” I won’t be able to say yes. It wouldn’t leave enough time for me to get Hannah up to speed on all the things Adam and I have talked about over the last week, like his first crush (the cantor at his temple), his favorite place to go as a kid (Camp Chickawah), and the best vacation he recently took (the beach in Destin, Florida).

Thanks to the stalking Hannah has me doing, I already knew about that trip—both the beautiful white sand beaches and the even more beautiful woman he went with. Adam’s ex-girlfriend is stunning—just as slim as my sister, but with more curves and bigger boobs. And according to the photographic evidence, always dressed to the nines.

It was a good reality check: as much fun as I’m having talking with Adam, it’s clear that he’s the kind of man who dates leading ladies. Not sidekicks.

Which is irrelevant, anyway, since I’m setting him up with my sister.

“Isn’t that right, Libby?” Hannah says, looking at me with desperation in her eyes.

I startle, remembering where I am. In our conference room. With our clients. Ourpayingclients.

“Absolutely,” I say, even though I have no idea what she’s talking about. I close out of the One+One app and turn my phone facedown so I can focus on the meeting and doing my part to help save our business.

Eighteen

HANNAH

Another day, another date. Thankfully, Libby listened to me and planned something active this time: pickleball. While I wouldn’t say I’m looking forward to this date, I’m not outright dreading it. I might not have crushed my comfort zone—I might not have even stepped fully out of it—but I’m at least straddling the border.

Libby told me about the guy before I left, but I’ve already forgotten everything except that his name is Landon. Hopefully we won’t have to talk except to razz each other about our serves.

I’m walking to the pickleball courts in a neighborhood park about a mile south of our apartment, listening toMurder on the Mindto calm my pre-date anxiety. This season, they’re discussing the disappearance of a young woman from Tennessee whose remains were found scattered in various national parks. A family in Yosemite found her femur; a couple in Glacier found her jawbone. It’s fascinating.

“Hey, all, we have some big,bignews,” Serena, one of the cohosts, says.

“That’s right!” Preeti, the other cohost, chimes in. “We’re publishing...”

Together, they shout: “A BOOK!”

I gasp out loud; a man passing me on the sidewalk startles.

“Sorry,” I say to him, pointing to my bone-conduction headphones. Serena and Preeti are discussing the details, and I’m so excited I can hardly stand it. Impulsively, I pull out my phone. I mentioned the podcast to Josh on our last run, and he texted me the other day that he’d started listening.

Hannah:Guess what? Serena and Preeti are publishing their own book!!!

He doesn’t respond right away, which is fine—he might still be at work. I pocket my phone and keep walking. A thought pops into my mind: I wish I was meeting Josh for pickleball, instead of some random guy.

Nope, I tell myself.Not going to allow that kind of thinking.

But then my phone buzzes in my pocket, and I pull it out, excited to hear what he thinks.

Josh:nice

That one-word response is like a pin stuck into a balloon. Instantly, I deflate.

Not a big deal, I tell myself.He probably hasn’t really been listening to the podcast, anyway.

Shaking it off, I reach the park. My anxiety spikes, that familiar buzzing in my brain, but I force myself onward.

•••

LANDON IS Atall guy with ginger hair and freckles, a nice smile, and an athletic build. He’s easy enough to talk to, whichis a welcome change from Rob, and after some introductions, we start playing.

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