In a New York Minute(97)

“You bid on it?” I asked.

He nodded.

“And I won,” he said, and then turned to look at me. “I mean, technically, we won.”

I gave him a quizzical look. “What do you mean?”

“I had planned on giving it to you,” he explained, rubbing his thumb along my palm, his hand still in mine. “But when we…when we stopped speaking to each other, it felt absurd to dump something like that on you. But…” He looked at me, his gaze hesitant. “But we could go anytime you wanted.”

I just stared at him, mouth ajar in a bewildered smile.

“You have to know by now,” he said, running his other hand over my thigh, “that at my core I’m pathetically romantic and mushy, right?”

“I really, really like that about you,” I said, and placed a small kiss on his jaw.

“Anyway, the tickets are yours, and you can do whatever you want with them, of course. But you did tell me when we met that you owed me one. Maybe I can finally collect on that.”

“I think we can work something out,” I teased. “But I need to warn you, I will definitely sleep on your shoulder on the plane. And I drool.”

“Don’t worry,” he said, giving me that boyish grin of his that made my whole body swell. “I already know that about you, and I don’t care. I still like you.”

He reached up and turned my hat backward. “You look cute in this,” he said, tapping the bill before leaning in to kiss me, his lips soft and urgent. “I also wanted to do this the first time we met.”

The subway doors opened at the next stop, and we both looked up. We weren’t heading toward Brooklyn at all. In our stupor, we must have gone to the wrong platform. We were on a train heading uptown.

“Franny,” he said, pointing to the station sign as the doors closed, “this isn’t the right train. We’re going the wrong way.”

I laughed and looked at him, grabbing his hand and bringing it to my lips with a kiss.

“Well, let’s just ride it, then,” I said. “And see where it takes us.”





Acknowledgments




I want to first acknowledge all the people who flip right to the Acknowledgments before reading a book. I see you. I am you. Welcome, and thanks for being here.

None of this would be possible without Holly Root, who is truly one of the most fantastic humans on earth, and an amazing agent to boot. I’m so lucky to have you in my corner. Many thanks to the entire Root Literary team for all that you do, and a special shout-out to Alyssa Moore, for being so on top of everything.

My editor, Amy Pierpont, is a brilliant word wizard who gave this book its wings. I am so grateful for your thoughtful direction and support throughout this process, and am better for it. And so is this book!

Estelle Hallick, thank you for being on board since Day 1, and for all you’ve done to share this book with the world.

I am so fortunate and grateful to get to work with the talented Forever team, including Sam Brody, Daniela Medina, Carolyn Kurek, and copy editor Elizabeth Johnson.

Kate Sweeney, Annie Sklaver-Orenstein, Bridget Maloney-Sinclair, Joy Engel, Gwen Mesco, Eirene Donahue, Emily Barth Isler, and Tanya Doyle-Gradet all read various drafts of this book. Thank you for your notes, feedback, catches (I’m looking at you, Gwen!), and cheerleading. It means the world to me.

Heather Lazare’s editorial prowess helped shape this book significantly.

Kristin Dwyer has been a guiding light throughout this process. Laine Hammer shared invaluable insight that allowed me to craft Franny’s life experiences in a more authentic way.

Doree Shafrir, thank you for reading a draft of this book and lovingly assuring panicked ol’ me that it did, actually, make sense. You are a wonderful business partner and friend and I will happily answer the “What do you like best about Doree?” question until the end of time.

Samee Junio, Sam Reed, Sara Robillard—thank you for all you do to keep our podcast operation up and running, especially during all the book deadlines.

To the entire Forever35 community of listeners: You all are the literal best. You feel like family to me, and I’m so grateful for all the love you’ve shown me during this process.

Thank you to The Pile for being there, always, and to Write! Write! Write! for your support and generosity every time I came to you with a question or worry. I couldn’t have finished this book without you.

This book would not have been written without the music of Phoebe Bridgers and Katie Crutchfield getting me through endless revisions. The gift that musicians give to stressed-out writers on deadlines is incomparable, and I am grateful.

Thanks to Phish, just because.

To my wonderful extended family of Spencers, Brightons, and Kings—I really lucked out in the family department. Thanks for always cheering me on.

The bond between Franny, Lola, and Cleo is modeled after the many endlessly loving and relentlessly supportive friends I am so lucky to have. Roommate, Biggie, Little One, Goober, Rocky, and Ater—you have especially kept me afloat through the hardest times. All my best laughs are with you.

Teresa Christiansen and Sarah Plimpton, this book would not exist without you and all the memories we made together. Sister Liberty forever.

Eleanor and Lydia King, you make my world go round. I love you more than everything bagels with scallion cream cheese and sliced cucumbers and tomatoes.