Bet on It (88)

Nat, Cici, Demi, Lo, and Soph, you know what you’ve done and who you’ve been to me. Meeting you all changed my life. Thank you for the nourishment, the encouragement, and for always keeping me humble. Andy would be proud of all of us assholes. Until the next one.

Mom, Angel, and Ashley, this is the fifth acknowledgment I’ve been lucky enough to write to you all. I can do nothing but hope that I will have the chance to write countless others. With you behind me, I have all the confidence. I love you more than I can articulate. Always.

To Kaitesi, who was the first to read this book. Your friendship is a beacon of light and your guidance has been … whatever a blessing is for this inarticulate agnostic. I can only hope you know how much I adore you.

Authors like Helen Hoang, Talia Hibbert, Love Belvin, Rebekah Weatherspoon, Rosie Danan, Sally Rooney, Alyssa Cole, and countless others whose work has inspired me, moved me, and stolen my heart, I wanna be like y’all when I grow up.

Jade and X.D., who do not know me but whose podcast has provided the most hilarious background to so many of my writing sessions, you two are a wang dang doodle.

And finally, to Rosetta, Gil, and Aunt Laura, you raised me then and continue to now.