Page 68 of The Comeback Summer

But it’ll all be worth it when Hannah realizes how good a relationship with a good man can be, and leaves Josh in the rearview mirror. Kind of like Adam is about to be in mine.

Twenty-Four

HANNAH

It’s Friday afternoon and the office is so noisy I feel like my head is going to explode. All the extra people Libby brought in have altered the entire atmosphere. It wouldn’t be so bad if they kept to themselves, but they’re so damnfriendly. Whenever I go to the bathroom or fill my water bottle, there’s someone around. Smiling. Trying to converse with me. It’s like living in the uncanny valley. It must take a certain kind of extroverted weirdo to voluntarily pay for the privilege of working around strangers.

Libby loves it; she’s in her element, making friends and getting to know everyone. Great Scott calls them “squatters” and gives them the side-eye whenever they try to talk with him, but he also loves gossip and spends all day blatantly eavesdropping on their conversations.

We need the money; I did the budget yesterday, and these desk fillers are keeping our lights on. Not that it’s enough—I had a mild panic attack yesterday when the woman who runs GiGi’s scholarship emailed to remind me to deposit the fundsfor the next six months. I had to drain our emergency account to cover it. Which means I’ll need to cut back even further on Libby’s and my salaries.

So, I’m doing what I usually do when my brain is on overload: staring at spreadsheets and listening to true crime.

Serena and Preeti are wrapping up the case of the missing Tennessee girl (it was her boyfriend, but his parents covered it up by dispersing the remains across several national parks). Then they switch gears.

“We’ve had a lot of interest about our book,” Serena says, “and we want to thank you all for your support. It’s coming out next summer and we’re so excited to tell you more about it.”

Preeti chimes in. “It’ll be a fun challenge—juggling this podcast, plus promoting the book.”

They go on, but my mind stays on Preeti’s words. On a whim, I pick up my phone and text Josh.

Hannah:Wouldn’t it be cool to do the PR for the Murder on the Mind book?

I haven’t seen Josh since our (ahem) meeting at the Congress Plaza Hotel last week, but we’ve been texting several times a day. And while I’m trying to not think about the physical experience of being in that shower with him (though it may have led to a few naughty dreams), Iamthinking about what he said to me.

I’m trying to win you back.

He hasn’t brought it up again, but I can tell he’s waiting for my answer.

I’m at a crossroads, and I don’t know which path to take. It’s not just the free-falling terror of placing my heart in Josh’shands and trusting him not to break it again. This affects my sister, too. And our business. If I’m dating Josh, I don’t think I can keep going on dates with other people. I wouldn’t be okay with that if our situations were reversed.

But Libby has put in so much effort on our challenges, not only training for the Down & Dirty, but scheduling my dates. She’s on the app constantly, messaging at all hours of the day. Probably because she has a teensy crush on this Adam guy I’m going out with tonight. But still. I can’t back out on her.

My phone buzzes—a text from Josh—followed by several others in his usual texting style.

Josh:YES! You should pitch them.

Josh:Is that what it’s called?

Josh:Pitching? Like a sales pitch. Not a baseball pitch.

Josh:obvi

Josh:Idk but you should do it

I have to laugh, even though it’ll never happen. Libby and I have never done PR for a book, which, now that I think about it, is strange, given how much Libby loves to read. But book releases are usually smaller projects, and GiGi never did them, so they haven’t been on our radar.

Hannah:That was more of a rhetorical question. We’re focusing on trying to win bigger budget clients, like Lou. But it’s cool to think about.

Josh:I didn’t mean you, plural, should pitch them

Josh:I meant you, singular

Josh:You, Hannah Jane Freedman, would be an amazing publicist for Serena and Preeti

I set the phone down, shaking my head. No way I can do it on my own. I’m about to explain that to Josh when Great Scott sends a phone call through to my line, and the rest of my day goes up in flames.

•••

---