The Comeback by Marlene Perez

or not, I needed to meet him on my own turf. I was still skeptical that Tanner was a great catch. Why was he willing to date a high school girl? And why would he need a setup? Then again, why did I?
    I bounced on my bed and checked my watch.
    â€œWill you relax, already?” Monet said.
    â€œWhat if he doesn’t like me?” I said. “Or worse, what if he’s a troll?”
    â€œHe’s not a troll.”
    I ignored her comment. “If he’s a troll, we’re not going to Wicked Jack’s,” I warned.
    â€œHe’s not a troll, I promise.”
    She was right. He was definitely not a troll, at least not on the outside.
    I gave him the once-over as Monet introduced us. He was taller than Connor, I noticed with satisfaction. Blond hair, blue eyes, broad shoulders. Pretty much the epitome of my type, so why did I feel like something was missing?
    â€œWhere would you like to go for dinner?” Tanner said politely, after we’d exchanged a few pleasantries.
    I met Monet’s eye and winked. “Monet and I thought we could go to Wicked Jack’s.”
    Scott groaned, but he didn’t complain.
    On the ride over, I asked Tanner a few questions: major (undeclared), sport (baseball, like Connor).
    Finally, I decided to ask straight out what I really wanted to know. “What made you agree to go out with me? I mean, you’re in college. I’m sure you could have your pick of girls.”
    He blushed. “Uh, I saw a picture of you. Scott mentioned that you’d recently broken up with your boyfriend. So we have that in common.”
    â€œYou recently broke up with your boyfriend?” The words came out before I could restrain myself. As usual.
    â€œHuh?” he said. His face clouded over.
    Poor Tanner was dumb as a stump. It was becoming clear to me now.
    â€œNever mind,” I muttered. “Do you still talk to your ex much?”
    â€œEvery day,” he said.
    I lifted an eyebrow.
    â€œWe’re still good friends,” he said. “And I miss her. You look a lot like her. Annabel has the sweetest disposition.”
    I hoped Monet could hear this in the front seat. She’d set me up with a lovelorn fool who thought I looked like his ex. And I thought he looked like my ex.
    I suppressed a caustic comment with difficulty. We were almost at Wicked Jack’s. No time for the reply dancing on my tongue. I needed to give the impression that everything was peachy.
    The restaurant was packed. I smiled at Tanner sweetly and wrapped my arm around his bicep. I gave the impression that I was absorbed in his every word, but my eyes scanned the room. Who was there?
    Olivia Kaplan, sitting at a booth with Hannah and a bunch of their friends. Good.
    Connor and Angie, sitting in a dark corner. Angie looked amazing in a simple green dress. A little much for the restaurant, but judging by the way Connor had his tongue down her throat, he didn’t seem to mind.
    I waved to Ava, who was sitting with a bunch of kids from Monet’s art class.
    My stomach lurched when I met Dev’s eyes. What was he doing at Wicked Jack’s on a Saturday night? He was with the guys from the swim team and didn’tsee the little wave I gave him. Beth was giving him the eye from a table a few feet away. Stalker, much?
    I was one to talk, I know. Of course, I picked Wicked Jack’s because I knew Connor would probably be there. He was a creature of habit, utterly lacking in originality. It had never bothered me before, but now Connor’s little flaws were getting on my nerves.
    All the tables were full, so we had to wait for an opening.
    â€œI’m starving,” I said. “Let’s wait over here.” I headed for a table of freshman girls. It was clear from the pile of empty dishes that they’d been there for a while. I gave a little blonde an icy stare and she practically leaped to her feet.
    â€œBehave yourself,” Monet hissed, “and