Page 98 of The Comeback Summer

“I need to reply,” I say, frantic. “If we’re going to talk tomorrow, I need to reply now. Can I—just one second. Sorry, I’ll be quick.”

“No worries, I’ll take the kayak back.”

Josh heads off, dragging our kayak behind him to the rental place. I find a bench and sit, typing my response with shaking hands.

Serena and Preeti,

I’m so thrilled that you’re interested in chatting. Tomorrow works great. Shall we say 10am?

All my best,

Hannah

As soon as I press send, panic hits me like a fist to the chest. I have hours of work before I’ll be ready for this. I pull up my Notes app and start a to-do list. I’m thoroughly absorbed when Josh sits next to me, and I look up with a start.

“Oh shit. What time is our dinner reservation?”

He shakes his head. “Just canceled it.”

“What? No—we should still go. You’ve been so excited about this place. I’ll work after.”

Even as I say the words, my panic grows. Not only do I not have time, I’m not sure I have theability. I’ve never done anything like this on my own, but the thought of getting Libbyinvolved makes me feel all prickly inside: she might try to take over the project, or she won’t understand why it means so much to me and why I agreed to do it pro bono when we’re desperate for money.

But without her, I might completely humiliate myself. I probably will.

Josh crouches in front of me, and I meet his eyes. They’re bottomless blue and full of an emotion I haven’t seen in so long: confidence. In me. I’d forgotten that this is how he used to look at me, all the time. Like I could do anything. And I always knew that he would be right by my side, cheering me on, as I did it.

“What do you think,” he says slowly, “about going back to your place? I’ll help you prepare for tomorrow. I can get us takeout while you work.”

My shoulders drop with relief. “You don’t mind?”

“There’s nothing I’d rather do.”

“Thank you!” I throw my arms around him. Then something occurs to me, and I pull back. “Can we go somewhere else? I’m not sure when Libby will be home, but I... I don’t want her to know about the Serena and Preeti thing yet.”

It’s not that I plan on keeping it from her forever. I’ll explain everything if Serena and Preeti decide to hire me. I mean, us.

Josh nods. “Let’s swing by your place and get your laptop, then we can go to the hotel and work.”

“But if we’re alone in a hotel room, I’ll want to tear off your clothes and do dirty things to you forhours!” I wail. “I won’t get any work done and neither of us will get any sleep.”

He bursts out laughing, then stifles it as he sees the panic on my face. “Then we’ll go to a coffee shop or something.”

“What about the hotel reservation?”

“I’ll change it.”

“It’s too late to get a refund!”

He presses his forehead against mine. “Hannah. Let me take care of it. And then let me take care of you. Okay?”

“Okay.” I kiss him, hard on the mouth, but force myself to stop before I get too swept away. “I would really like to kiss you more, but—”

“You have work to do,” he says, taking my hand. “Let’s go.”

Thirty-Three

LIBBY

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