Chapters (58)
- Cover
- Praise for Abbi Waxman and her novels
- Berkley Titles by Abbi Waxman
- Dedication
- Epigraph
- Summer
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- Fall
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-FOUR
- FORTY-FIVE
- EPILOGUE
- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- Readers Guide
- Questions for Discussion
- About the Author
- What’s next onyour reading list?
“Piglet from Winnie-the-Pooh,” said Nina, and added, “I worry, on the other hand, that I’m the kind of person who radiates my inner anxiety into the world like a wireless signal. It hasn’t escaped me that whenever I join a group it isn’t long before people start leaving it. I think I put people off because I talk too much about random things.” She looked at Laura. “Everyone contributes something, and I guess I bring the awkward.” She held up one hand and waved a small, imaginary flag.
Laura reached over and patted her friend on the leg. “Honestly, I think you’re really interesting, and the fact that you talk a lot makes it easier for me not to.” Nina made a face, so Laura moved on. “What does Polly bring?”
“Unpredictability.”
“Maggie?”
“Acceptance.”
“Tom?”
Nina looked at her. “Sparks.” She grinned. “And what does Bob bring?”
Laura closed her eyes and thought about it. “Things that sound boring but aren’t.”
“Like?”
“Friendship. Kindness. Comfort. Easiness, if that’s a word.” She shrugged. “I’m not doing a good job at describing it.”
Nina laughed. “You’re doing a fine job, because I think the word you’re looking for is ‘love.’ ”
“No, don’t be silly,” said Laura.
“I’m not being silly,” said Nina. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but you’re saying he makes you happy to be yourself, and happier still to be yourself with him. That there’s nothing wrong that can’t be handled, that you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.”
“Well . . . yes, I guess.” Laura felt tight chested. “When I leave the house every morning, I feel better knowing that at the end of the day I’ll be coming back to where he is.”
“Sounds like love to me.”
“I think love is supposed to be more exciting than that.”
“Nope,” said Nina. “I think new relationships are definitely exciting, but I also think love sometimes feels like sailing into harbor.” She finished her wine. “Like running into someone you’ve known a long, long time but never met before.”
Laura gazed at Nina.
“That doesn’t even make any sense.”
“And yet,” said Nina loftily, “you know exactly what I mean.”