Dedication
To the nurses and doctors of NYU Langone Health—particularly 15 West, Tisch Building, Manhattan
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
An Excerpt From It Happened One Summer
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
About the Author
By Tessa Bailey
Copyright
About the Publisher
Prologue
September 15
HANNAH (6:00 PM): Hey. Fox?
FOX (10:20 PM): Yeah.
H (10:22 PM): It’s Hannah. Bellinger? I got your number from Brendan.
F (10:22 PM): Hannah. Shit. Sorry, I would have answered sooner.
H (10:23 PM): No, it’s fine. Is it weird of me to text you?
F (10:23 PM): Not weird at all, Freckles. You make it back to LA safely?
H (10:26 PM): Not a scratch on me. Missing that signature Westport fish aroma already (only half kidding). Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you for the Fleetwood Mac record you left on my sister’s doorstep. You really didn’t have to do that.
F (10:27 PM): No big deal. I could tell you wanted it.
H (10:29 PM): How could you tell? Was it me openly sobbing when I left it behind at the expo?
F (10:30 PM): Kind of tipped me off.
H (10:38 PM): Ah. Well. I wish you could hear it play in person. It’s magic.
F (10:42 PM): Maybe someday.
H (10:43 PM): Maybe. Thanks again.
F (11:01 PM): You didn’t have to tell me your last name. There’s only one Hannah.
H (11:02 PM): Sorry, can’t say the same. I know several Fox’s.
October 3
FOX (4:03 PM): Hey Hannah
HANNAH (4:15 PM): Hey! What’s up?
F (4:16 PM): Just pulled back into the harbor after 3 days out.
F (4:18 PM): This is stupid, but you’re okay, right?
H (4:19 PM): I mean, my therapist would probably say that’s debatable. Physically I’m in one piece tho. Why?
F (4:20 PM): Just a weird dream. IDK . . . I dreamed you were missing. Or lost?
H (4:25 PM): That wasn’t a dream. Send a chopper.
F (4:25 PM):
F (4:26 PM): Fishermen don’t ignore the dreams they have on water. Sometimes they’re nothing, other times they’re a premonition.
H (4:30 PM): If anyone worries in this friendship, it should be me. I’ve seen the Perfect Storm.
F (4:32 PM): That makes me Wahlberg in this scenario?
H (4:33 PM): Depends. Can you pull off white boxer briefs?
F (4:34 PM): And then some, babe.
F (4:40 PM): So this is a friendship?
H (4:45 PM): Yeah. Are you on board? (fishing puns, they are happening)
F (4:48 PM): I’m . . . yeah. So I can just text you whenever?
H (4:50 PM): Yeah.
F (4:55 PM): Okay then.
H (4:56 PM): Okay then.
October 22
FOX (10:30 PM): Hey, Freckles. What are you up to?
HANNAH (10:33 PM): Hey. Not much. How can you tell if you have a “flat” tire?
F (10:33 PM): Why what’s going on??
H (10:35 PM): My car was making a weird noise, so I pulled over. I’m going to go check if it popped.
F (10:35 PM): Hannah it’s past ten o’clock at night. Stay in the car. LOCK THE DOORS and call a tow truck.
H (10:36 PM): Yeah . . . I won’t know how to describe where I am to them. One of the makeup artists at work had a séance. I think I’m in Los Feliz?
F (10:37 PM): You don’t know where you are?
F (10:38 PM): This is my dream. It’s happening. Premonition.
H (10:39 PM): Come on. No way.
F (10:40 PM): You were just at a séance and don’t get to be skeptical.
H (10:41 PM): You know what? That’s fair.
F (10:42 PM): Map your location on your phone and call a tow truck.
F (10:43 PM): Please?
H (10:45 PM): Are you this protective of all your female friends?
F (10:48 PM): You’re the only one I’ve got.
H (10:49 PM): Fine. I’m calling a tow truck.
F (10:49 PM):
November 22
HANNAH (12:36 AM): Are you awake?
FOX (12:37 AM): Wide.
H (12:38 AM): Are you alone?
F (12:38 AM): Yes, Hannah. I’m alone.
H (12:40 AM): Let’s start “Leaving on a Jet Plane” at the exact same time and listen to it together.
F (12:41 AM): Hang on. I have to download it.
H (12:42 AM): You’re killing me.
F (12:42 AM): Sry my phone isn’t a music encyclopedia like yours. Why this song?
H (12:44 AM): IDK. I miss my sister. A little in my feelings about it. Have you seen her around town?
F (12:45 AM): I’ve seen her lipstick on Brendan’s collar. That count?
H (12:47 AM): That’s why I’m bugging you, instead of her. I don’t want to burst their bliss bubble.
F (12:48 AM): You’re not bugging me, Freckles. Ok ready?
H (12:48 AM): Yup. Go.
F (12:51 AM): It’s crazy how much better this song is than I remember. Why am I not listening to this all the time?
H (12:52 AM): Now you can. Isn’t it amazing?
F (12:53 AM): Uh-huh. Do I get to pick next?
H (12:55 AM): Oooh. Okay. Whatcha got for me, Peacock?
F (12:57 AM): Something to cheer you up. You have the Scissor Sisters in that encyclopedia phone?
H (12:58 AM): Studio albums or live? Yes to both.
F (12:59 AM): Jesus, should have known. Start “I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’” in 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . .
January 1
FOX (12:01 AM): Happy New Year.
HANNAH (12:02 AM): Same to you! May it bring you crabs.
F (12:03 AM): Any resolutions?
H (12:07 AM): Normally I would say no. But I want to take more risks this year. Put myself out there a little more workwise, you know? Don’t copy me. You are AT CAPACITY on workplace risks.
F (12:09 AM): How else am I going to get crabs?
H (12:10 AM): At a restaurant, like a normal person.
F (12:10 AM): I always order the steak.
H (12:11 AM): That’s irony for you.
February 5
FOX (9:10 AM): It’s raining here. Give me something moody to listen to.
HANNAH (9:12 AM): Hmm. The National. Start with “Fake Empire.”
F (9:14 AM): On it. Got any plans for this weekend?
H (9:17 AM): Not really. My parents are in Aspen, so I have the house to myself. I have it to myself a lot lately. I keep expecting Piper to walk around the corner in a charcoal mask.
F (9:18 AM): Women put charcoal on their faces?
H (9:20 AM): That’s tame. There is such a thing as a snail facial.
F (9:21 AM): Jesus. I’m just going to pretend I never heard that.
H (9:28 AM): Do you have plans this weekend? Heading to Seattle?