How to Ruin a Wedding(98)

“Lucinda.” Anders presses a kiss on my cheek, my neck, my chin, my mouth, like he’s trying to kiss every exposed inch of skin as he speaks. “I love you too.” More kisses, more fingers clinging into my skin, pulling me closer. “Stay with me. Don’t leave again.”

“Wasn’t planning on it,” I answer with my own spread of kisses. “This is my home.”

His gaze softens, and his lips move to the side of my head. At that, a round of applause thunders around us. Anders’s family, my family, smile our way, and Valerie and Taina make kissy faces as they do.

No glaring, no lies, no baggage.

Just love, all around, for everyone.





Acknowledgments


I’d like to tell you about my greatest love: my pit bull, Storm (Stormy, Stormy Wormy, Storm-Storm). She is mentioned in the novel as Lucy’s dog and her inspiration for working at Save a Paw. Storm is my forever puppy, an old girl diagnosed with Cushing’s disease, which is treatable but incurable. I give her all my love all the time, and I would appreciate it if, in her honor, you’d donate to an organization like Grey Muzzle, a place that helps senior dogs in so many amazing ways—www.greymuzzle.org/about-us/who-we-help. Storm is the sweetest, kindest, most innocent and beautiful angel, and was my companion throughout writing this book (and all my books).

“Woof.” —Storm on How to Ruin a Wedding

I am incredibly lucky in life to have so many people to thank. I fear I may miss someone here, with all the abundance of support I’ve received. So if I miss you, know it is my forgetful brain typing this out in the middle of the night. I promise I love you as well!

Emily Annie, my life is great for an endless number of reasons, and most of them are because of you. Thank you to Selena James for believing in this story from the moment it hit your inbox—I am eternally grateful. Abby Zidle, thanks for your amazing feedback and help on this novel. To Pippa White and the rest of the team of editors who helped get this story into book form—thank you.

Thank you to Mindy Kaling for picking my book for your imprint! I cannot believe you like this story. Part of me has a God complex that understands why—it’s an amazing book! And the other part of me, the one battling imposter syndrome, cannot believe someone as cool as you even knows I exist.

Thank you to my sister, Jessica, whom I love with all of my being—thank you for always being at my side and always ready to play Super Mario with me. Thank you to all my family for always bragging about me.

Thank you to my light, Michelle, for never letting me be negative toward myself. Hearing your voice, seeing your name flash on my screen, thinking of your very existence, fills me with happiness.

Thank you to Aylin for always showing up, posting, and trying to make me famous so you can quit your job and steal my money. I’m really trying. I’m currently writing this in your living room, and you’re yelling at me that it better be good. Is this enough to ease your pesky, cute self? Thank you to Jeremy for all the game nights when my brain is rotting. Mimi, I love you. Cheska, my life would be significantly less exciting without your joyful presence. Chris Rosa, I have a concerning amount of affection for you (let’s watch Demon Slayer five million more times). Hiba—my Hiba—what did I do to deserve a friend like you? (Let me know so I can do it again and have you in another life.) My friend Teresa—who eats rare meat and rides horses—you’re so cool.

Thank you, Em. You were the first person to read the very first draft of this book (and look how different it’s become!). You are such an uplifting soul to me and to the book community. Thank you to Anthony N., mi primo Gabriel, and all the bookish friends I’ve made online who have supported me and shown me kindness. Thank you to my dear friend Kamilah Cole, who always lends a hand and fights my thanks because “this is just what friends do!”

My Harper people are so dear to me! I have made such genuine friendships, and you’ve all been supportive in a way I am deeply grateful and honored by. Matt and Ryan—my power couple—I look forward to every moment together, even on that damn commute. Abby, Emily, Lexie, Michael, Sophie, social, all my friends there—thank you! I love my team: Lauren, Sari, Lisa, Danielle, and Emma (thank you for letting me crash at your place and analyze Avatar: The Last Airbender because it is very serious to us).

I’m unable to write anything at all without music. It’s such an integral part of who I am and my process. So I thank Ryuichi Sakamoto—rest in peace—Nobuo Uematsu, and Yoko Shimomura, my all-time favorite composers, whose music always guides me through my stories.

When editing, I always pick a comfort show to fixate on during breaks, so thank you to Kōhei Horikoshi, the author of My Hero Academia, whose story brought me so much peace (and panic) throughout editing this book.

Lastly, thank you to the readers who picked up this story. Your support means more than these words could ever accomplish in relaying. I am so grateful.