The Fastest Way to Fall(106)

        NATIONAL EATING DISORDERS ASSOCIATION | nationaleatingdisorders.org

    AL-ANON/ALATEEN | al-anon.org

    NAR-ANON | nar-anon.org





Acknowledgments





The idea for this book came to me when I sat in a room full of strong, caring, purposeful people of color where I felt safe to be vulnerable and brave enough to tell this personal story. First and foremost, thank you to people who give others the strength to feel that way. I count myself lucky to have so many of them in my life.

My husband and my sweet tiny human, thank you for always cheering me on, encouraging me to write, and offering up needed distraction in the form of a Netflix binge or dance party. I can’t imagine spending my life with two more perfect dudes. Tiny Human: You can NEVER read this book, either.

This book came to fruition during the pandemic, and though that meant being apart from my family for a long time, their care stretched through the phone and over Zoom. Thank you to my parents, who have always pushed me to do better and had a hug or high-five no matter what. Thank you to my brother. I could share a quote from our orthodontist, but I think you know what you mean to me. To Amanda, Mike, Melissa, Jean, Bruce, Barb, Tim, Aretha, Allison, Kaitlin, and all my aunts, uncles, and cousins, my niece and nephews, and my friends, thank you for listening to me talk about writing for years, and for endless support.

I highly recommend having talented publishing professionals in your life who happen to also be strong and kind. Thank you to my wonderful agent, Sharon Pelletier, for always being in my corner and making me feel seen. Thank you also to Lauren Abramo, Andrew Dugan, and Cat Hosch at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret, Kristina Moore at Anonymous Content, and Eleanor Russell and the Piatkus team.

Thank you to my editor, Kerry Donovan. I can’t imagine working with someone else—my soul and my book have so much more sparkle because of you. Also thank you to Dache’ Rogers, Tara O’Connor, Bridget O’Toole, Natalie Sellars, Mary Baker, Lindsey Tulloch, and the rest of the Berkley and Penguin Random House team for bringing this novel into the world. The cover for this book was designed by Farjana Yasmin, and I am in love with the beautiful representation of the book that includes a sky full of possibilities.

Bethany Moore has read this book more than anyone and was the very first person to fall in love with Wes and Britta. More than that, she’s my sister in every way except blood, and one of the strongest and most beautiful people I know.

I don’t know if I’d have made it through 2020 without the Better Than Brunch crew. Charish Reid, Taj McCoy, and Cass Newbould, you are my rocks. The laughter and love in our Sunday writing session fills my cup, and I love you three.

Katie Golding, you are amazing, affirming, and the ultimate cheerleader, but also the ultimate friend. On top of writing captivating stories I can’t get out of my head, you are a beautiful, strong woman who makes me feel like I can do and be more. Thank you for being part of my world, Eagle!

Allison Ashley, I will always trust you with my messy drafts, knowing you will make the book better. Thank you for loving Britta and Wes from the beginning!

Rosie Danan, you are a ray of sunshine and I am so glad we are friends. You haven’t convinced me to watch Speed, but you have impressed and inspired me at every turn with your talent, care, compassion, and humor.

Jen DeLuca, Libby Hubscher, Priscilla Oliveras, Tova Opatrny, and Sarah Smith, thank you for always being there with encouragement, advice, humor, or the perfect GIF (and sometimes all four).

Thank you, Kenyatta, Jacki, Jasmine, Jalen, Wonjae, Jen, Racheal, Jathan, Matt, Tera, Emily, and the rest of my ISU family for celebrating bookish wins with me. It means the world to me to be able to share my love stories and accomplishments with colleagues I so admire and cherish.

Thank you also to Robin, Kat, Alex, Brenda, Yesenia, Haley, Emily, Brian, Tara, Nicole, Carolyn, Alissa, Rena, Ambre, Lisa, Janet, Salem, Diane, Miranda, Laynie, the rest of #TeamCarly, Natalie, and all the other friends who shared your time and suggestions for this book.

Finally, a huge thank-you to everyone who has let my stories be part of your life. I am endlessly grateful.





Keep reading for a special preview of

   DO YOU TAKE THIS MAN

   by Denise Williams, coming in fall 2022!





I COULDN’T BLAME Maddie Anderson for scowling at her soon-to-be-ex-husband.

He appeared calm and collected in a bespoke Italian suit, remaining quiet, deferent, and reasonable. He almost looked bored by the proceedings, about the minutiae of his marriage ending. I made note of the gray at his temples and supposed it was easy to look dignified as a fifty-seven-year-old sitting next to one’s twenty-three-year-old wife, and probably easy to be bored when you’d done this a time or two before.

Behind the makeup, Maddie’s eyes were puffy, and the cuticle on her thumb looked shredded, like she’d been nervously scratching it. Since walking in on her husband with not one but two women during their son’s first birthday party, she’d been through a lot. The hurt and embarrassment were clear in the woman’s mannerisms, but Mr. Anderson didn’t seem to care. Granted, my client popped her gum and huffed any time opposing counsel spoke. She rolled her eyes again, and I glanced at the clock on the far side of the wall. Despite the eye-rolling, the gum-popping, and the faint smell of perfume I could only assume was Kardashian-inspired, Maddie Anderson was going to leave a very rich woman. Her husband didn’t want to leave this room without a settlement, and I suspected he and his attorney underestimated how well we understood that.