“Hey, do you want the bouquet or not?”
I nodded. After she left, I looked in the mirror and almost didn’t recognize the girl in front of me—but not because of the makeup or hair this time. Had I ever looked this happy? I winked at my reflection and went to pee. Alex was waiting for me.
EPILOGUE
Neither of us had driven to the hotel to get ready that morning, so we took an Uber to my apartment, me sitting in the middle seat to be closer to him, our fingers intertwined.
“We wasted so much time,” I said, shaking my head. “Because I was too dumb to face up to what I thought I did.”
He brought my fingers to his lips and kissed them. “We only wasted this last month. I wasn’t ready for anything real when we met.”
I thought about the girl who crept out of the hotel room in a stolen shirt and shook my head at the memory. “No. I don’t think I was either.”
“And now?”
I took his arm and put it around my shoulder, snuggling in against him. He kissed the top of my head.
When the Uber pulled up outside of my building, there was no discussion. We both got out and walked quickly to the elevator, still holding hands. Once safely alone inside, we kissed again, my back against the bar, my arms around his neck. He had to tell me that we should get out when we reached my floor; I was too wrapped up in him to realize the door had opened.
He kissed down the side of my neck, an arm around my waist as I fumbled with my key and kicked off my shoes as we fell in the door, pulling his tie off at the same time.
“Lily!” I jumped a mile at Becca’s voice.
Now? I thought. Of all times, now? Alex pulled away and straightened up, running a quick hand through his hair.
She rose off the sofa, where Will still sat, two glasses and a bottle of champagne on the coffee table in front of them. She came toward me with her left hand extended.
“Will proposed!”
I smiled reflexively. “That’s great, Bec! I’m so happy for you both!”
She beamed back at Will, happily. “I can’t even believe it—you’ll be my bridesmaid, won’t you?”
“Of course,” I said as Alex started to laugh behind me. “But starting tomorrow. Tonight, I have other plans.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This book spent a very long time percolating before it actually made its way onto the page, and it would not be in your hands today without the help of my incredible support network.
First, I want to thank my superhero of an agent, Rachel Beck, along with the whole team at Liza Dawson Associates. You and I found each other at a time when I had almost given up hope that I would ever succeed as a writer, and I can never thank you enough for what you have given me. The fact that we both held off going into labor until this deal went through and then had our babies on the same day is just icing on the cake. I love and appreciate you.
To my editor, Alicia Clancy, thank you for seeing the potential in this story and in me. You made my dream become a reality, and it’s a much stronger work thanks to your insight. I can’t wait to work with you on the next one!
Thank you to the whole team at Lake Union Publishing for believing in me enough to publish not only this book, but a second one as well. I couldn’t ask for a better experience.
Thank you to my developmental editor, Holly Ingraham, for tightening the weak spots and helping me round out Lily’s character. I absolutely love the finished product thanks to you.
Thank you to my husband, Nick, and our two sons, Jacob and Max. Nick, writing this with a toddler would not have been possible without your support and absolute belief in my ability to make a career out of my passion. Not to mention giving me the time to get my edits done while eight months pregnant in a pandemic and then with a newborn. Thank you for always knowing that I would succeed, even when I didn’t. Thank you to Jacob and Max, for keeping me company and providing the best distractions ever. (And thank you to Rosie and Sandy, our schnauzers, because Nick told me I needed to thank them for cuddling me and for not blocking too much of my laptop while I was writing.) I love you all very much.
Thank you to my parents, Jordan and Carole Goodman, who cultivated my love of both reading and writing practically from birth. Mom, you have always been my first reader, and I appreciate your insight and endless support. This book would not exist without you. (And no, Lily’s mom isn’t based on you!) Dad, thank you for the socially distanced, pandemic headshot and for always keeping my technology working (and recovering missing pages when that technology goes awry). Who would have thought that mini laptop you gave me to type my stories on when I was a kid would lead to this?
Thank you to my brother, Adam, and sister-in-law, Nicole Goodman. Seeing my early works on your shelf, three thousand miles away, made me feel loved and supported every time I’ve come to visit. I love you, Cam and Luke, so very much.
Thank you to my grandmother, Charlotte Chansky—you may have behaved better than Lily’s grandmother in Mexico, but you were her inspiration. Your love of storytelling shaped so much of my childhood and my voice as a writer. And how Bert would have kvelled.
Thank you, Aunt Dolly and Uncle Marvin Band, for always loving and believing in me—so much, in fact, that you accidentally spilled the beans about my book deal before I did. But, at your age—I’ll stop there.
Thank you to Uncle Mike, Aunt Stephanie Abbuhl, and Andrew, Peter, and Ben Chansky, for providing my very favorite writing spot. Mike, you may be a pain, but every time I see my books on the shelves in Avalon, I know it’s (mostly) for show.
Thank you to my cousins, Allison Band, Andy Levine, Ian and Kim Band, and Mindy and Alan Nagler, for being some of my loudest cheerleaders. Your genuine excitement when good things happen means the world to me.
Thank you to Mark Kamins, for your unconditional love and support. I wish your parents were here to see this.
Thank you to Kevin Keegan, the best of teachers, mentors, and friends. I could write a whole book about the difference you have made in my life (actually, I kind of did) and it would not be enough. I hope you laugh as you read this, without anyone needing to hit a concierge bell.
Thank you, Jennifer Lucina, for being my friend, my sounding board, my life coach, and my friend—I said friend twice because it’s amazing that you’re still here after everything we’ve been through. I couldn’t have told this story without you (and your wedding—sorry!), and I love you so, so much.
Thank you, Rachel Friedman, for keeping me sane during the writing of this book, both by being a free therapist and by making me laugh when I felt like I was drowning. I’m so lucky to have you in my life.
Thank you, Sonya Shpilyuk, for keeping me grounded, whether at work, at home, or both during a pandemic. You’re my absolute favorite weirdo and I adore you.
Thank you to Jan Guttman, Georgia Zucker, Christen Dimmick, Joye Young Saxon, Chris Smith, Katie Crockett, Sarah Elbeshbishi, and Jade Pinkowitz for the many years of support, friendship, and, of course, coffee.
Thank you to the Confino family.
Thank you to everyone who supported my self-published works and blogs throughout the years. You made me believe that I could actually do this.
And finally, thank you to Uncle Jules, for giving me a typewriter when I was eight years old and telling me I should be a writer. I hope I’ve made you proud.