Other Broken Things
Page 18
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I’m late and have to sneak in the back, but I need this more than anything right now. I’ve missed the announcements but I know them anyway. It’s full, but Friday nights always are. My knee is bouncing as I listen, and I don’t even really know what I’m going to say, but I raise my hand.
“Hi, I’m Natalie. I’m an alcoholic.”—“Hi, Natalie”—“I won a boxing fight tonight. And lost someone I love. Within fifteen minutes it went from being the best night of my life to the worst. And I guess that’s how it goes sometimes. And I don’t want to drink. Not really. But I want the hurt to go away. I wanted him to love me enough to risk it all, only he didn’t. Or maybe he did. It still sucks, though. But I’m here, which I guess is something. And I’ll go home to my mom and watch a bunch of shitty movies and maybe eat a pint of Ben & Jerry’s and wake up tomorrow remembering everything, and hurting again. But sober. Thanks for being here for me. I guess I’ll keep coming back.”
Acknowledgments
This book wouldn’t have been possible without the help of my dear friend Jay Asher, who is ragingly patient and tolerant of me. Thanks for sticking around, Asher, even when there were a lot of reasons not to.
To my formidable editor, Liesa Abrams, you are a very good partner for me and have given so much love and care to this book. There aren’t enough words of gratitude.
To the entire Simon Pulse team, who has showered this book with support, particularly the cover artist, Dave Foster, and my adorable publicist Kelsey Dickson. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
To agent Jonathan Lyons at Curtis Brown, Ltd., who has been a champion of this book from the start. Thanks for seeing all the best things about it, J.
To Mandy Hubbard, who read the first fifty pages and suggested Nat have something she’s passionate about. You said horseback riding and I went with boxing. Tomato-tomato, Mandy. It was still a great idea.
To my critique partners, Jolene and Lucy and Carrie. Your brains are astounding and I love how much you fill in the giant holes I manage to leave in my first drafts.
To Kristina Martin and Leslie Wu, thank you both for directly and indirectly supplementing my amateur women’s boxing knowledge.
To Drew, Ted, Carrie, Amy, and Gayle. You are a very good circle. I’m grateful for every email I exchange with the lot of you. Ted, I am particularly grateful for your invitation to come watch you box. I promise I’ll get there one day.
To Brent and Bryson, the two of you really make my days way better. Thanks for believing in me.
I’m also extremely blessed to be part of the YA writing community at large, who fights and listens and tries to make things better every day. You have welcomed me and I’m so glad to be part of you.
Finally, a mountain of love and gratitude for my family and friends, who have stuck with me through everything. My parents and sister, who cheer and help with the kids and ask me about my books even when they aren’t really your bag. My friends, who pull me away from my computer to do roller derby and eat sushi and go to book clubs and teach Sunday school and talk. I would be lost without you. And most of all, to my husband, Julio, you will always be my first, last, and everything. Jojo, Bijou, and Butter, you are the best parts of me. I’m so lucky to be your mom. I love you.
SDG.
C. DESIR writes contemporary fiction for young adults. She lives with her husband, three small children, and overly enthusiastic dog outside of Chicago. She has volunteered as a rape-victim activist for more than ten years, including providing direct service as an advocate in hospital ERs. She also works as a bookseller and edits romance novels. Visit her at www.christadesir.com.
SIMON PULSE · Simon & Schuster, New York
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Also by C. Desir
Fault Line
Bleed Like Me
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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
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First Simon Pulse hardcover edition January 2016
Text copyright © 2016 by Christa Desir
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ISBN 978-1-4814-3739-4 (hc)
ISBN 978-1-4814-3741-7 (eBook)