Lucy smirks.
I roll my eyes. Next to me, a girl walks by, talking loudly into her cell phone. “He was literally the hottest guy I’ve ever seen,” she says, and I want to tell her that’s not actually what the word means, but stop myself. Our entire generation is misusing it anyway. What’s the harm in living outside the lines?
Acknowledgments
My editors: Sara Shandler, Hayley Wagreich, Jocelyn Davies—this book is as much yours as it is mine. Thank you for seeing me through this process and approaching every draft with true enthusiasm, no matter how much our heads were hurting. I learn from each and every note you make on the page, even when I fight you on it at first (particularly when I haven’t had my coffee yet—sorry about that).
My thought partners: Josh Bank, you weirdo, for having a dream where I kidnapped one of my characters, the impetus for this whole crazy thing. Joelle Hobeika for, as usual, wrangling us all back to Earth.
My agent: Pete Knapp, for coming onto the scene and making everything better, when all I could give him in return was ice cream. And, of course, for introducing me to Louis the Dog, Napoleon’s kindred spirit.
My roomie: Zana Lawrence, for sharing my wall, and for reminding me that we’re all just doing our best.
My parents: Marty and Mike, for telling me that sometimes, you know what? It’s okay to turn something in late.
My family unit: Mom, Dad, Mike, Andy, Shannon, Laura, for never making me feel bad about spending holidays at the library, instead of where I really wanted to be—watching movies on the couch with you.
My friends: You know who you are. For your forgiveness, your wisdom, your unconditional love.
Dave Ferino: for introducing me to Animal Man!
My first high school English teacher: Meredith Price, who made Andover feel like so much less of a scary place.
My heartthrobs: the ones who’ve made me smile and made me cry, the ones who’ve showed up in tuxedos on Valentine’s Day, the ones who never got on the plane, and the ones who did.
And Ernie Bear: The sweetest, tiniest beast of all.