Thank you Ellie Pindolia, a.k.a. TahliePurvis—to whom I dedicate this cameo of Axel Teller from The Girl He Left Behind—for being an inspiration and a wonderful human being inside out. I thank Katherine Arlene and Tiana Pop for letting me borrow their names—thank you, ladies! Fallon Elizabeth for letting me be part of the Remember December anthology and for talking to me despite the time difference.

I thank Catharina Melisa, who gave me real advice on all things writing and publishing, and who is a solid friend and fellow writer. Coffee’s on me at So-Ba, Cat!

Jordan Lynde for being an absolute sweetheart! Now that I’m free, I am watching Hotel del Luna; don’t give me spoilers! Chanelle and Nicole Pierman for reading the ARC—I have an ARC?! Now I’m starting to believe that I’m a real author (not sure what that means).

Hugs to my angels: Katelynn Dang, Angelica H., Taylor W., Caitlin P., Judy H., Ana Luisa MS., Lakshmi P., Zita N., Emmchel D., Amber Boyd, Syeeda Nafeah, Margarita M., Umniah S., Katherine M., Rachel B., Marlena A., Shahwar A., Vera Q., Brianna G., Marsida K., Dhriti S., Evelina L., Aran S., Turyaga C., Aakanksha D., Tawonga P., Audrey W., Sarayu K., Sylvia M., Iman A., Elena M., Faizah A., Mia F., Cheryl D., Shalu P., Manisha R., Tayo A., Joasy, Celine J., Faith G., Rahma M., Meghna, Daphne N., Theresa N., Ashley O., Adrianna B., Tamara N., Osh K., Mila H., Areebah S., Grace S., Khushi T., Abena K., K.S. Ocean, Priyanshi S., Tasneem J., Preyankaa S., Antarjot K., Nadine A., Gale M., Isabella S., Mariam M., Nassandra M., Kimberly M., Saadiya D., Glory N., Reha S., Renesmee S., Marie A., Tazeen F., Sana A., Sophia B., Kathryn S.V., Zoha Q., Keyura Vadlamani, Madison Nolan, Fidan A., Benthe B., Chloe Deffenbaugh, Enyinna Jane, Rida Fawal, Deena Qistina, Faith J.R., Nividha Rajan, Hanfa Qasim, Amena Begum, Adeyinka Razak, Raquel Ferreira, Purva Kulkarni, Agboola Comfort, Harshita P., Suhani S., Anahita H., Nassandra M., and Rao Nayna Singh, who sent a lovely message saying I inspire and motivate her to write. Thank you—that’s literally my goal. I cannot wait to read your stories!

I would like to thank everyone from Wattpad HQ, Macmillan Publishers, Penguin Random House UK, Raincoast Books, Laura Mengsinga, and everyone who helped to make this dream of mine come true. BTS, Frank Sinatra, Halsey, Linkin Park, and Taylor Swift for their wonderful, inspiring music.

Last but definitely not least, I would like to thank army and Swifties all over the globe who have graced my timeline with tweets that made me cry and laugh in public.