Mismatched in Manhattan: the perfect feel-good romantic comedy for 2020
Page 31
I roll over now to pull Zoey closer to me, my muscles feeling well used and achy, but my hands are met with crumpled sheets instead. I force one eye open.
Not only is Zoey fully dressed but she’s almost out the front door already.
“Hey,” I call out to her, my voice still filled with sleep. “Where do you think you’re going?”
She looks back at me. “Where else?” she asks. “There’s a very large, empty table waiting just for me.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Listen,” she says, as she pulls her wet hair into a ponytail. She even took a shower already? “If you think a few rounds of mind-blowing sex are enough to keep me from my destiny of Table Champion, you don’t know me very well.”
I smirk. “Mind-blowing sex, eh?” I say, folding my arms behind my head and leaning back into the headboard. “Go on.”
“My mind is blown and my strategy is sound,” she says, as she pulls open our door. “Flattery just bought me another thirty seconds. See ya!” She slams the door behind her.
“You’re ruthless,” I yell, but I also don’t attempt to move out of bed. If this is the consolation prize for losing Table Champion, I don’t think I mind one bit.
Besides, I know she’s saving me a seat.
Acknowledgments
SarvenazTash: Hey
SarahSkilton: Hey
SarvenazTash: Hmmmm … well, that accomplished nothing. Maybe Miles is onto something in his handbook.
SarahSkilton: So we have to do the acknowledgments. How do you want to handle it?
SarvenazTash: Well, we have to thank Alicia Condon, of course, our amazing editor at Kensington. And let her know how much we appreciate her enthusiasm and love for Miles and Zoey’s story. Working with her has been a pleasure and a joy.
SarahSkilton: Victoria Marini at Irene Goodman is our rock-star agent: smart, empathetic, and all-around awesome. We’re indebted to Lee OBrien and Maggie Kane as well. Thank you so much!
SarvenazTash: Also, from Kensington, we are very grateful for our publicist Jane Nutter, as well as the fabulous efforts of Lynn Cully, Jackie Dinas, Alexandra Nicolajsen, Kris Noble, Laura Jernigan, Susanna Gruninger, and Carly Sommerstein. Also a very special thank-you to Elizabeth Trout, who was the very first Kensingtonian to read and love this book and who started the chain of events that led to its home. We’d also like to thank superheroine agent Lia Chan at ICM, and the incomparable Ronald Bass for his enthusiasm, ideas, and one of the most unforgettably delightful meetings of our careers.
SarahSkilton: To my sister, Rachel “HankyBook” Murphy: I love you so much and your support means the world to me. Thanks for being an early reader of all my stuff, from the published to the unpublished and everything in between.
SarvenazTash: And to my sister, Golnaz Taghavian, one of the most discerning readers/watchers of rom-coms that I know. Thank you for being a beta reader for this; I knew if I could get you on board, I’d done us proud. (#TeamMusic-FromAnotherRoom4eva.)
SarahSkilton: I need to thank the wonderful Amy Spalding for always making me laugh (and making me meals!) when I most need it; Leslie Sullivant and Lisa Green for our nights at Rose & Crown pub talking writing; the RWA Santa Clarita branch; Lynne “Early Reader” Kadish for the kind e-mails; and Stephanie “Dammital” Sagheb for fabbo movie nights. Elliot “Cheesy Nuggets” Skilton is my favorite little guy, and Joe “Love of My Life” Skilton is the reason any of my books exist at all. My parents Earl & Ros Hoover and Lydia & Richard Skilton have endlessly supported and encouraged me, and I’m extremely grateful. Carrie Fisher and Nora Ephron helped inspire this story; we miss you.
Lastly, thank you to Sarvenaz Tash, the only person I can imagine collaborating with on a novel. After we met on Twitter in 2011, you literally opened your home to me a few months later when I was in NYC (and many times since). Your generosity, talent, work ethic, and creative spirit are unmatched. I have loved writing this book with you and it still makes me laugh every time I look at it. Thank you, thank you for your friendship. I treasure it more than I can say.
SarvenazTash: I’d like to thank the rest of my wonderful family, especially my mom, Haleh, and aunt, Homa, for too many things to list here; my aunts Hengameh and Haideh—I miss you both so much; my in-laws, Arlene and Michael, for their constant support and enthusiasm; my husband, Graig (whom I met-cute on—true story—the Staten Island Ferry), for making me laugh every single day; and Bennett and Jonah, who were generally no help when it came to the writing of this book but enrich my life in every other way. I can’t wait to dress up as Tired Mom for Halloween with you two.
And, most of all, I’d like to thank my writing partner, Sarah Skilton. Writing this book with you will always be one of the greatest joys of my life. It’s been my beacon of light and hope and SO much laughter over the past two years. It was the place I retreated during the darkest times (and without fear of neuro-caterpillars). I’m so honored that you’ve shared your talents with me in this way. And even more grateful that I can call you one of my best friends.