Their Vicious Games(102)

To Alexandra Young, you are my person. I really do feel like that’s all there is to say.

To Sarah DeSouza. Sarah, Sarah, Sarah, whom I love so so deeply and dearly. You are my very best friend. Thank you for reading every draft. Thank you for hearing every doubt and every anxiety. Thank you for refusing to let me pretend that this isn’t a big deal, because this is a big deal. Thank you for being.

I want to thank my parents for reading me three books every single night from the time I was a newborn until I’d decided I could read myself to sleep. Mommy, I’m sorry I’m a little creep who likes writing about creepy little things, but you shouldn’t have let me pick all my own books when I was seven. Dad, thanks for being a nerd and raising me to be a little nerd. I wish you were into zombies—this book has nothing to do with zombies, but I still wish you were into them.

Finally, I thank my sister, Alyssa. I still remember every shadow puppet show.