Just Friends(93)

Thank you to Lynn Painter for reading the first chapters I had ever written of this story and encouraging me to keep going. You probably had no idea you were the first person to ever lay eyes on my words, and your generosity did more for me than you’ll ever know. Thank you to Lauren Roberts for replying to every single niche question I had about the writing process with in-depth voice memos. Thank you to Bryana Kay, Nick Iby, and Isaac Carlton for responding to every desperate text asking if a line was “weird,” and for celebrating me on this crazy journey. Shout-out to my tiny terrier Chihuahua, Spock, who was never farther than five feet from me during the writing of this book. My deepest and warmest and truest thank-you to my husband, Ryan. You listened to my crazy plot ideas and helped me work out every flaw. You are a natural storyteller, and although you don’t write books, you tell stories in every medium you touch. You believed in my ability to write this book more than I did most days. I am honored and privileged to be married to someone so outrageously joyful, kind, talented, and generous. Thank you to my parents. To my mom, who checked out the maximum number of books we were allotted from the library beginning when I was four and for reading every last one to me. To my dad, who made me confident in my voice by being confident in his. And last, the biggest thank-you to my audience, who championed this story before you even knew what it was about. That kind of optimism for a venture I never believed I could make meant more than you will ever know. On days when I questioned why I ever thought I’d be capable of this, I remembered your enthusiasm and kept going. I hope to write you many more stories and continue recommending books I love to you, too. Alright, then. Bye! tongue-taco-weird-slurp-into-the-camera-thing