I actually really really dislike story tropes like that. This Sword of Damocles hanging over your head at all times.
Didn't like it in Leap of Faith either and I am sure there are more where this is a thing.
Let's make you hang out with and get used to and fall in love with these (4-8) nice girls for hours and once you start making up your mind let's bring the canonical "real love" of the MC back. Doesn't matter that you have no connection to that person whatsoever, the MC has and we'll make you feel real bad for not choosing her. Gosh I hate it.
I happen to know some really good looking girls that are active on Instagram/Tiktok (I know, crazy right?) and let me tell you there is a massive amount of guys that somehow think like that.
The sheer number of "conversations" in their DMs that go like:
is absolutely staggering.
Yeah the whole idea with Summer's return is pretty much irrelevant to me at this point
I doubt Ocean could write and make her in such a way to actually rival all LI currently and the ones who will come later in to the story.
I just don't see how her coming back will bring something new and exciting in MC's life with so many hotties of all ages circle around him, but who knows? maybe i'll be surprised and change my mind.
Maybe she will come back without being available to be a LI, that would certainly be a suprise.
Nonetheless for now at least...i don't think i see the point of her lol.