Blind Kiss(82)

Love, Mom (Anne)

To the bride and groom: You know how I feel about marriage, except maybe for you guys. This all finally makes sense now. Took you two long enough. Honestly, though, I’ve never seen the two of you so happy. You might make a believer out of me after all.

Congratulations!

Love, Keeks




To the bride and groom: Gavin, I’m sorry I’ve missed so much. I hope to be a bigger part of your life. You married a lovely woman. I’m proud of you.

Love, Mom




P,

It’s kind of pathetic but I would have waited forever for you. There’s no other woman for me. There never has been. Will you wear those black tights again? I love you in those tights. Thanks for helping me raise Elodie. She’s lucky to have you. I’m lucky to have you.

I love you more than Charlize.

G




Gavin,

Funny. I’m telling Charlize you said that. Listen, though . . . I know you don’t like being serious but I wanted to tell you something: I don’t think we’re exploding stars at all. I think we’re constants. I know because I’ve always loved you. And because you’re different now. It’s like your spirit has calmed. I see you on the porch playing guitar and I know you’re finally content. I don’t want to look back at the time when we weren’t a couple and have regrets. I have a lifetime of wonderful, beautiful memories with you. This is just the next chapter in our story.

All my love,

Penny





Acknowledgments


I wrote this book a while back, and now I’m finally writing the acknowledgments after many months have gone by. Every time I go back through a book I remember the very small moments in my life that inspired whole scenes. Sometimes it’s just a second, or a deep breath, or a sun flare on a photo, or words spoken to me by someone I love, or seeing someone’s eyes well up with tears just because I’m crying. A scene will come to me and I’ll think to myself, I’m so lucky I get to do this for my job, even though it’s not always easy.

I wrote this book for my friends who have stuck around. I wrote it for myself, too. And of course I wrote it for the readers, the lovers, the dreamers, and if you’re reading this now, I wrote it for you. Thank you for keeping me writing. It’s my happy place.

Thank you to Allison Hunter, my agent, for taking me on, and actually liking the first draft, and also for a bunch of other awesome things you do.

Tara, you inspire me. Keep sending the music recs. Rodrigo, thank you for the always amazing covers. YA YAs, always pushing me to be better, love you. John Snow Cash, please never stop sitting at my feet while I write. Whitney, what the hell would I do without you?

To my mom, dad, brother, sister, mother-in-law, and their families, thank you for sharing my books with your friends and family, and for your love and pride.

To this author and blogger community, I am so lucky to know so many of you. To Judith, Loan, Milena, and the Atria crew, thank you so much!

Jhanteigh, when I saw you last in New York and you came into the restaurant so jazzed, it put a huge smile on my face. You’re a character. Keep laughing; it’s contagious. Thank you as always for believing in me, trusting me as a writer, and for all your hard work on my books.

Ang, took a while to get a dedication, I know, but to me this book was more about friendship and trust than any other I’ve written. Thank you for being my best friend.

Sam, you amaze me. You’re such a hard worker and so determined. Whenever I decide to let you read this book, you’ll know by then that I couldn’t care less about MIT. Your kindness and happiness is my biggest pride.

Tony, you are truly an original with the biggest heart, most clever one-liners, and great humor. I’m proud of your progress this year. You’re still a messy eater, though. I hope that improves by the time you’re an adult.

Anthony, our love tree still blooms every year, and your coffee-making skills have improved from year to year as well. Thank you for all you do for all of us.