“But you kept bringing her home for the holidays.”
Jacob shrugs. “Her family lives in California. I didn’t want her to be alone.”
He was being a good friend. Of course he was.
“So, you and Paige are over?”
His lips tug into a lopsided smile. “She didn’t even like me enough to spend a couple of weeks playing Olivia Rodrigo on repeat. It took her about three days to start dating a guy named Brandon who she met on a dating app.”
I choke back a laugh. “Paige and Brandon met on a… dating app. Wow. That’s—” Some serious cosmic intervention. “That’s amazing. Good for them.” I have a feeling Alex is going to meet that Instagram woman any day now.
Somehow, despite my meddling, everything worked out exactly as it was supposed to. Out across the café, Owen is wearing Mrs. Kaminski’s feather boa, and she has his beanie hat pulled over her gray bob. José Luis leans over to adjust their poses so he can sketch their portrait on a napkin. Kasumi and Zoe are giggling over Kasumi’s phone, no doubt playing my tell-off video again, counting how many retweets it’s gotten.
I turn back to Jacob. By some miracle, Jacob is here with me. “I love you,” I tell him again. And then I grab his hand and we hop off the stage, making our way over to everyone who matters most in the world.
Epilogue
January
I wake to the sun slanting in the window and the events of the night before on my mind. Telling off Xavier. Partnering with Zoe at Higher Grounds. And Jacob. My heart melts like icing on a cinnamon roll when I think of Jacob onstage, playing the piano and singing just for me. I still can’t believe he performed in front of everyone, and it almost feels like a dream.
The star-shaped midcentury chandelier above the bed sways gently, as if it’s nodding along to this assessment. A breeze from the window ruffles the curtain in agreement. It’s the one I always leave open a crack because otherwise, the old radiator in the corner will leave me roasting when I wake up.
I roll over, my eyes still adjusting to the sunlight, and gaze at the man sleeping next to me. A year ago, who would have ever guessed that Jacob and I would be…
I flush at the memory of what happened when we came home last night. Let’s just say that some combinations go perfectly together, like chocolate and peanut butter.
His back is to me, rising and falling beneath the covers. He’s pulled the duvet all the way up to the crown of his head, and I reach out to tug it down so I can wake him with a kiss. But something stops me. Something familiar about this moment.
I’ve woken like this before, with a man sleeping next to me. Just like the last time, it’s January first, and just like last time, his face is obscured by the duvet.
I bolt upright.
Was last night a dream? Or—oh no—even worse. Have I gone back to the start of my second chance year… all over again? Panicked that I’m stuck in a horrible Groundhog Day loop, I grab the duvet and fling it aside, exposing the man’s bare shoulders and back.
He slowly rolls over. “Sadie.” The man’s eyes drift open. “What are you doing?”
I reach over and squeeze his arm to make sure he’s real. “Jacob? Oh, thank God.”
He smiles. “Were you expecting someone else?”
“No.” I flop back against the pillows, a laugh rumbling in my chest. “No, absolutely not.”
Jacob snakes an arm around me, pulling me close. “I can’t believe I’m here with you.”
“I can’t believe it either.” And with my pulse still stuttering, I roll over so I can see his face. “Jacob, what day is it?”
He blinks. “Thursday, I think.”
“No, I mean the date.”
“Um.” He looks at me sideways. “I think New Year’s Day generally falls on January first.”
Of course it does. But—“What year is it?”
“Really?” he asks with a laugh.
“Just tell me.”
Jacob says the year, and I smile broadly, settling back against him as his familiar scent drifts over me. I feel movement at the foot of the bed and look down to find Gio carefully making his way across me to curl up on Jacob’s chest. He turns on the purr, and Jacob smiles and scratches his head.
It’s a new year. One I’ve never lived through before, one with endless possibilities. The past is behind me, and I’m finished with trying to change things that don’t need to be changed.
I couldn’t be more excited about what will come next.
Don’t miss Melissa’s next scintillating romance coming late 2024!
Acknowledgments
I’m so thrilled this book found a home with Forever/Grand Central Publishing. Thank you in particular to Estelle Hallick, Alli Rosenthal, Stacey Reid, Daniela Medina, and Justine Gardner for working so tirelessly to get this book in front of readers. To Sabrina Flemming, thank you for all of your feedback that helped take this book to the next level. And a very special thank-you to my editor, Junessa Viloria, for championing this story, for sharing your amazing insights, for believing in this book’s message, and for falling in love with Jacob. It’s been truly wonderful to collaborate with you.
To Jill Marsal, I am endlessly grateful to have you as my agent. This book has been in the absolute best hands with you every step of the way. Thank you so much for believing in it and in my writing career.
To Sarah Congdon, thank you for creating the most beautiful cover that ever existed. It makes me happy every time I look at it.
I am fortunate to have some of the best writer friends in the world. This book, and my writing career, wouldn’t be what it is without two incredibly talented groups of women. To my “local” friends, Lainey Davis and Elizabeth Perry, I value our coffee shop chats so much. I’m so grateful for your advice, your incredibly spot-on and sometimes tough-love feedback, and for always answering my text messages. To my “GH” friends, Anna E. Collins, Megan McGee, Sharon M. Peterson, and Katy James, just about the best day of my writer-life was when I walked into that conference room in NYC and met you all. Your friendship and support throughout my career—from unpublished writer to The Second Chance Year (and beyond!)—has meant everything.
Thank you to Lauren Kung Jessen and Meredith Schorr for your enormous generosity in sharing your time and wisdom with a brand-new Forever author! I adore both of you and your books! I hope to pay it forward someday.
I couldn’t write a comedy without acknowledging Jennie, Amie, Monica, and Mandy, the other four members of the “Fab Five.” I’m so glad we were awkward teenagers so we were forced to develop a sense of humor.
Thank you to my amazing kids, Anjali and Indy, for looking out for your father when your mother disappears for days at a time to write books.