“It’s when I knew,” I say to him, shrugging.

“It’s when you knew what?”

“That at the end of the day, no matter what we may have been through, I’d always have your back.” I smile.

Julian reaches for my hand and holds it tight as we walk up the steps into school together.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Though my family and I only spent a handful of years as residents of Texas, the impact made on me by the people I encountered and grew close to will live with me forever. In a sense, this book is my love letter to Texas and the friends I left behind when we moved away. To the students and staff of Cypress Ranch High School, thank you for showing me the importance of tradition, introducing me to the spectacle that is Texas high school homecoming weekend, and helping me realize that the friends we surround ourselves with daily show us how to grow into who we were always meant to be. An extra-special thanks to JQ, KS, LP, MB, RS, KA, AR, EC, and MH. Love you, ladies.

To my brave and beautiful daughter, LB, may you and your friends always be able to find a happy ending for yourselves in the pages of a good book.

To my intuitive and empathetic son, RB, thank you for supporting your mom and for your willingness to answer endless questions about the culture of high school sports.

To my agent, Courtney Miller-Callihan, thank you for trusting me, and thank you for knowing what this book could become. It’s been a long road, and you’ve had my back every step of the way.

To my editor, Hannah Milton, thank you for your willingness to listen and your unending commitment to making this a story that I am endlessly proud of. Your input was invaluable, and you forced me out of my comfort zone and made me push the boundaries of what I thought I was capable of.

Thank you to Ashlena Sharma for the gorgeous, pitch-perfect cover art.

To the rest of the team at Poppy/Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, thank you for shepherding me and this book through the process, and getting it into the hands of the readers that need it the most.

I don’t know how anyone does this work without an intricate network of amazing friends you can call on for sprints, gifs, laughs, and support. To the Handspun sprinting crew, AP, and VAS, thank you for always showing up for me. Thank you to SW, LH, and SR for consistently keeping me upright and being my handful.

The squeeziest hug to JB for being the bestest best friend ever and my rock through this entire process. Endless tacos and leftover spaghetti for you. Always.

A big thank-you to my Stinky Petes and their kiddos for reading early drafts and offering input, kind words, and endless cheerleading.