head, his expression resigned. “She’s not the one who—”
I lift my hand to stop him. “No one thinks you’re funny, Patrick,” I tell him. “Don’t you get that? No one is laughing. Not even your friends.”
Patrick frowns for a second then shrugs before turning back around.
Mitch nods once. I linger for a moment, offering a faint smile.
The audience inside the theater erupts with applause as I turn to leave.
I walk the three blocks in my dress and heels. I love this dress. I want to always look at it, hanging in my closet, and remember this night in November when I stepped into my own light. Wind pushes against me, sending the fabric in ripples as I move down the streets of my little town.
The bell rings above my head as I push the door open to find Harpy’s busy with all ten people in Clover City who didn’t attend the pageant.
“Whoa,” says Marcus as he hands a customer their receipt. “Lookin’ fresh, Will.”
At the sound of my name, Bo rounds the corner with a red sucker dangling from his cherry-stained lips.
I set the sparkling cider down on the counter.
He pulls his apron down from around his neck so that it hangs from his waist. His lips split into a broad grin. “Willowdean,” he says.
I sigh.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I am so lucky. I get to wake up every day and do the job I love—one I believe in. I wouldn’t be in this position today without the support and guidance of some pretty incredible people.
Alessandra Balzer, you are the type of editor writers dream of working with, and I am thankful every day that working with you has been my reality. Thank you for investing in Willowdean and for knowing what I meant to say before I quite knew how to say it.
Molly Jaffa, I actually think you would move a mountain for me if you could. Thank you for keeping the wheels of my life spinning, and for that extra push with this book when I was feeling a little desperate. You are my agent and my friend, and for both I am thankful.
Caroline Sun, you are the wizard behind the curtain. Thank you for everything you do.
The School & Library marketing crew (Patty Rosati and Molly Motch!), I am forever grateful to have you all on my team.
Aurora Parlagreco and Alison Donalty, I could not have asked for a more perfect cover. My love for your design is bigger than words. Ruiko Tokunaga, for making that cover perfectly tactile.
There are so many people at Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins/Epic Reads/HCC Frenzy to whom I owe a world of gratitude. Susan Katz, Kate Jackson, Andrea Pappenheimer, Kerry Moynagh, Heather Doss, Donna Bray, Kelsey Murphy, Nellie Kurtzman, Booki Vivat, Margot Wood, Alexei Esikoff, Suman Seewat, Aubry Parks-Fried, Jennifer Sheridan, Kathy Faber, and anyone else I might have missed (because I’m sure I have!), your kindness and faith in my work have been invaluable. I am so humbled to be working with such dedicated human beings.
Jessica Taylor, for always reading and letting me be my most bare, horrible self. There will never be enough cupcakes.
Jeramey Kraatz, thank you for always being my partner in crime and for crossing state lines with me to see Dolly Parton—a day I will never forget.
Natalie Parker, I am of course grateful for your honesty and fairness, but most of all for your friendship and for always letting me tag along.
Corey Whaley, thank you for all the hours spent reading over Skype and for all the hours spent talking about everything and nothing at all.
Tessa Gratton, for pulling me out of the book-two black hole and for spending two weeks with me in a car and still loving me in the end.
Kristin Treviño (and everyone at Irving Public Library!), all that you do is incredible, and I am so thankful for every opportunity I’ve had to take part.
Jenny Martin, my hometown sweetheart. Thank you for always rooting for me.
Like Joe Cocker said, “I get by with a little help from my friends.” Katie Cotugno, Adam Silvera, Bethany Hagen, Jennifer Mathieu, Kristin Rae, Sarah Combs, Christa Desir, Michelle Krys, Amy Tintera, Kari Olson, Jen Bigheart, Caron Ervin, Preeti Chhibber, Stef Hoffman, Courtney Stevens, Ashley Meredith, John Stickney, Hayley Harris, Jeffrey Komaromi, and Asher Richardson. Every blogger, librarian, teacher, and reader. My Lone Star community, OneFour KidLit, #Lufkin6, the Fourteenery, and the Hanging Garden. Thank you all.
Mom, Dad, and Jill, thank you for always being my home and for believing in me and all my wild dreams.
Dolly Parton, for never apologizing for yourself and for every last song. Your music was the grease this book needed.
Ian, for loving me always.
The fat kids, the skinny kids, the tall ones, the short ones, and everybody in between: I am so thankful that not a single one of us is the exact same. What a boring world that would be.