We went through a ton of versions when we were coming up with this book. You wouldn’t believe some of the sports we had May and Colt playing before lax. So it’s all thanks to the people who got us here: my amazing editor Amy, for giving me a mission and helping me run with it. To everyone in cover design and marketing, and the amazing Mallory, the force behind the art. To the entire tireless team at Avon Books UK!

And to Ilaria for the lacrosse idea that we initially laughed about until we realized it was serious, and suddenly we were at the kitchen table with chips, salsa, and a Goodnotes diagram of a lacrosse field, plus some high school lax lore.

I also have an extremely special thank-you to my incredible dear friend (and technical advisor) Shawna, the real-life #13, for literally spelling out women’s lax for me!

In the words of Emma Gaughan when I first told her about CJ Bradley: ‘I love him bad.’ This is about all you need to know to recognize how thankful I am for her. And to Jahanvi, Addy, and Chandana, who heard it first around the coffee table. To Sophie, Ana, Maria, and Madeline (who did Albuquerque recon for me) in all their radiant capacities. To Alicia, and for Alicia. To Hiruni. To lovely Lina.

I’d be remiss not to thank the best creative writing teacher a girl could’ve asked for. Thank you to Batz for cultivating my love for words, and for letting me keep showing up, and to Liebs, to whom I continue to present new books at least annually.

And to the beloved Booksta friends without whom this section would be incomplete: Teigan, Ams, Chloe, Caylynn, Apoorva, Bekah, Danielle, I hope I’ve got you all! To the phenomenal authors I have had the pleasure of getting to know: Bridget, you are an absolute light and talent! Megan, Maggie, Avon sisters. Riya, Parveen, Vai, and the original Desi Girls: Ruby, NM, Bal, all hugs all around.

I also want to thank everyone I had the pleasure of speaking to (and withholding information about this book to!): Riley and Carson, TG1F (Nicole and Kate), and Driveé.

To Iowa for teaching me about what it means to love a team so much you’d literally sit through storms for them. GO HAWKS!

To the junior year emotional maturity curve. A book like this doesn’t come without a cost, and I feel I paid mine. I’m working on it. I’m not perfect. But it’s true: fiction is never totally fiction. It’s those not-so-easy experiences we weather that bring that fiction to life.

Last but most certainly not least: to the readers. You show up time and time again, and I am so grateful and in awe of you. This one’s for you. Never forget to let the good in.

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