But it’s here! Finally, it’s finished and you’re holding it in your hands, and the work is done. Of course, with working on a book for nearly five years, there comes a list of people that I have to thank, so without further ado …

My friends always come first. Huong, Corey, Cam, Robin, Kat, Remi, Pav, Adriana. I definitely complained about this book a lot less than the last one. But still, your constant support over the course of these last few years has meant the world to me.

Lauren: the dream-agent, who knew that this book had to bake a little bit longer before it was ready. I’m glad that we waited, and working alongside you continues to be the best experience I could’ve asked for.

And David and Jeffrey, who helped realize the true potential of this book, helping me weed through messy notes, unrealized ideas, character motivations that made no sense, and plot threads that needed a lot of tender love and care.

To Maeve, who designed the perfect cover for this story before I even dreamt about what it could look like, and to every person at Scholastic who worked behind the scenes to help bring this book to life with their time, effort, love, and care.

Then there are the authors who I feel lucky to call friends, people who inspire me to work harder and push myself further with each and every story I tell: Becky, Adam, Camryn, Sophie, Cale, Julian, Alice, Sabina, Amber, Rachel, Adib, Jay, Nita, Mark, Aiden, Jason, Claribel, Casey, Lana, Natalie, and anyone else who I’m almost definitely forgetting. It’s easy to feel like you’re alone in an industry like this, but y’all make it worth it to still be here.

To each of my readers, whether you’ve so graciously followed each of my books or this is the first of mine that you’re picking up, thank you so very much for your support.

To every romance story I’ve ever loved.

And to every trans person who ever believed that they didn’t deserve a love story. This book is dedicated to you, to every trans person who thinks that they’re too complicated to love, who maybe saw a bit too much of themself in I Wish You All the Best and who wanted a love story of their own.

To Austin and Rachael—see, I didn’t forget you this time! And Teagan, my conversations with you keep me going, they’re so insightful and introspective. Now if only you could change your own diaper.

To my Dad, I feel like I said everything I needed to say in the last one, so I’ll keep this simple: I miss you, and I wish you were still here. We all do.