Well. Someone will soon be coming to remind him.
The overhead speaker sounds.
“Flight BA 2256 to London Gatwick is now boarding. Please proceed to Gate 6.”
I close the notepad with a snap and press it into the side of my bag.
No one’s coming for me.
Annabel is going to go down for it all, as much as she’s going to try and manipulate her way out of it. She’s out of her depth this time.
As I head to the gate, I can’t help but catch my breath at the sight of a family ahead of me. The parents are distracted, looking around at the shops, the father lumbered with dragging two large, wheeled suitcases. Behind them, pinching and poking at one another, are two sisters, a matching pair of mousy, freckled girls. The younger one is sulking, unhappy at her sister’s upper hand. Just when I think she’s going to burst into tears, the older sister reaches out again, but this time puts her arm around her and cuddles her close.
My hand wipes away at my eyes. It won’t look good to start randomly crying in an airport.
After all, what are sisters for?
Those bitches might have started it, but I sure as hell finished it.
Acknowledgments
There are so many people I would like to thank for helping to make my dream come true.
Firstly, to Helen Heller, not only the best literary agent in the world but someone who has changed my life completely. You believed in this book and in me and offered such valuable feedback. Thank you for everything.
To Saliann St-Clair, Katie James, Sarah McFadden, and everyone at the Marsh Agency. To Joe Veltre at the Gersh Agency.
Thank you to my editor, Rachel Kahan, for loving She Started It and helping to make it what it is today. You’re brilliant! To the amazing team at William Morrow, including Ariana Sinclair, Kim Lewis, Olivia Lo Sardo, and Ali Hinchcliffe, for everything from copyediting to cover design to marketing—you are all phenomenal.
E. A. Aymar became my mentor through Pitch Wars, an experience I will never forget. You were the very first person outside of family and friends to read my work, and not only that, you thought it was halfway decent! With your guided support and feedback, that manuscript became something I could query confidently to agents. But you didn’t stop there—no matter how many times I call or message with a question or worry, you’re there to help me. I’ve never met someone so selfless and dedicated to seeing other people succeed. And when you felt your advice wasn’t enough (which it always was!) you introduced me to some generous and kind authors who helped me and whom I’d like to thank as well: Susi Holliday, Jennifer Hillier, Bruce Holsinger, Hannah McKinnon, and Alex Segura.
My fellow Pitch Wars mentees—thank you for being so supportive! Special shout-out to Kelly Mancaruso, who cry-laughs with me whenever I need it!
Freddie Valdosta, you read a very early draft of this and gave me fantastic feedback. Not only that, you’re the best friend in the world and you never doubted for a second that this book would get published.
To my mum and dad, who are my absolute number one champions. Ever since I was little you have supported my dream of being an author. From buying hundreds (probably thousands!) of novels, to painting my very first writing desk an amazing pink and getting me endless notebooks and pens, you have never stopped believing in me and I wouldn’t be where I am today without you. I did it! My brother Lewis, the best older brother anyone could ask for. Not normally a book person, you have been excited and supportive every step of the way with me on this journey and that means so much! (I’ll be cracking open that champagne on release day!) To my wonderful old cat, Toby, who has been on my lap many times over the years when I’ve been writing.
My whole extended family has been so remarkable ever since I told them about this book, and I hope you all know how much I love and appreciate you for taking such an interest.
My partner, Joe, could not have been more incredible. From reading endless drafts and offering your opinions to helping me with characters to simply running me a bubble bath after a long day, you are wonderful. Thank you so much. There would be no book without you.
If you have read this book—thank you.
Finally, this book is dedicated to the memory of my grandmother, Marie Blackmore. She passed away a few days after I found out William Morrow had bought She Started It, and it meant everything to me that she was able to know before she died. She and I bonded so much over books and our love of reading, and she always believed I could be an author. I hope I have made her proud. Thank you, Granny. I love you.
About the Author
SIAN GILBERT was born in Bristol, UK. She studied history at the University of Warwick, before teaching at a comprehensive school in Birmingham for almost five years. She now lives in Cambridge with her partner.
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