Cherry (37 page)

. . . it happened.

It wasn't even an official date night. It was just an end of summer Sunday, a few days before Layla was scheduled to move into her USC dorm. Aaron texted Layla when he got off work at The Bigg Chill earlier than usual. They decided, last minute, to grab a quick dinner and see a movie. They shared fries. They held hands. They laughed at the big screen. And then, what began as just another seemingly endless make-out session, turned into the first time Layla never realized she always wanted.

It was passionate.

It was spontaneous.

It was sexy.

And loving.

And a little bit silly, too.

And
, it all went down
exactly
sixty-nine days after high school graduation. The sexy numerological wink from the universe seemed almost too good to be true. But it wasn't. It was very real. And absolutely right.

  *  *  *  

LAYLA
Baxter lost her virginity in the backseat of her car.

To be honest, the sex pact wasn't always part of the plan.

Even Layla could not have planned it better if she tried.

It was perfect.

All of it.

Mostly, because the girls did it all together.

Together
together.

And that really was, without a doubt, the very best part.

You never forget your first time.

Trust me, I know.

And I'm already certain that I will never forget
this
first time either. The process of writing my first novel—­spanning from the first blush of an idea, to this final, finished product—has been exhilarating, terrifying, humbling, and immensely rewarding. I am sincerely grateful—for all of it. And I know it would not have happened without the unwavering support of my family and friends who have held my hand—both literally and figuratively—every step of the way.

Thank you to everyone at Simon Pulse for championing the story of these four friends and their fireworks. Thank you, Mara Anastas, Liesa Abrams, Mary Marotta, Lucille Rettino, Carolyn Swerdloff, Tara Greico, Jennifer Romanello, Jodie Hockensmith, Christina Pecorale, Mandy Veloso, and Regina Flath. An extra-special thank-you to my
editors, Jennifer Ung and Sarah McCabe, whose enthusiasm knows no bounds. Thank you for your fearlessness and your patience. Thank you for helping me find the rhythm and pace of the book. You are the best.

Thank you to my wonderful literary agent, Jess Regel, for helping me navigate this process and for being excited about
Cherry
from day one. Thank you you to my manager, Josh Turner McGuire, for helping me keep my head on straight. I don't know what I'd do without you. And thank you to the rest of my team: Melissa Orton, Bryan Diperstein, and Tara Kole.

Thank you to my crew of early readers, fellow ­writers, “technical” consultants, and very best friends: Elyssa Caplan, Caroline Rothstein, Emma Sugerman, Aaron Karo, Jordan Ross, Harper Dill, Marissa Freeman, Melanie Mason, Sasha Salinger, Samantha Billett Rosenblum, Sara Sargent, Jessie Rosen, Emma Goidel, Ilana Caplan, Lindsay Katona, Jamie Epstein, John Krause, and Molly McCook. Thank you all for your notes and wisdom and insight. Thank you for your pep talks and the “you got this” text messages. Thank you for humoring me. And loving me. And reminding me to laugh and sleep and breathe.
Cherry
wouldn't be what it is without you—and neither would I. An additional and endless thank-you to Elyssa, Caroline, and Emma—my
girls
and founding members of my tribe and executive committee—who went above and beyond the call of friendship and read every single draft of
Cherry
along the way. We really are the luckiest.

Thank you to my friends from high school. The ones
whose pictures were taped to the walls of my bedroom. The ones I made mix CDs for. The ones I hung out with in Rugby Theater, or in my parents' backyard, or the back seat of my car. And
especially
the ones I've eaten frozen yogurt with at The Bigg Chill. Thanks for being a formative part of the story of my life.

Thank you to my extended Rosin and Passman ­families—­my relatives by blood and the ones we've adopted by choice. The regular days and the holidays and all the moments in between wouldn't mean nearly as much if I couldn't share them with all of you. I want to especially thank my 99-year-old grandmother, Helen Rosin, who I've had the privilege of updating about the
Cherry
writing process every step of the way. The first time I told her about the plot of the book I chose my words rather carefully, saying that it was a story about four friends during their senior year of high school. Then I added that it was “a little bit sexy.” Without missing a beat she replied, “That's okay, people like that.” I'm so very glad she said that. Hopefully, she was right.

Thank you to my Andy Grammer and “Ain't It Fun” Pandora stations and all the songs that played on repeat. Thank you to all the baristas at my favorite Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (10897 Pico Blvd.) for making the best vanilla lattes around. Thank you, Santiago Huckleberry scented Voluspa Candles. Thank you to Converse sneakers. And thank you, Pilot G2 pens (size 1mm), which I used as I wrote the entire first draft of
Cherry
by hand.

Thank you to my dog, Dodger, who sat by my side or at
my feet or on the purple shag carpet on my office floor as I wrote almost every word of this book.

Thank you, Mom, Dad, Maxine, and Avery—for everything. I'm not sure what life would be like without the “lovies” group chat, but I wouldn't want to live it any other way. I love you all to the moon and back—and so far beyond that too.

Thank you to my husband, Josh. I love you forever. Long story short: there were two ducks.

And finally, thank YOU for reading.

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.

An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division

1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020

www.SimonandSchuster.com

This Simon Pulse hardcover edition August 2016

Text copyright © 2016 by Lindsey Rosin

Jacket photo copyright © 2016 by MIXA Co. Ltd./Collection/Getty Images

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

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Jacket designed by Regina Flath

Interior designed by Tom Daly

The text of this book was set in Stempel Garamond LT.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Rosin, Lindsey, author.

Title: Cherry / by Lindsey Rosin.

Description: Simon Pulse hardcover edition. | New York : Simon Pulse, 2016. | Summary: “Four best friends make a pact to lose their virginity before they graduate high school”—Provided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2016005846 (print) | LCCN 2016024435 (ebook) | ISBN 9781481459082 (hardback) | ISBN 9781481459136 (eBook)

Subjects: | CYAC: Coming of age—Fiction. | Best friends—Fiction. | Virginity—Fiction. | Sex—Fiction. | Self-realization—Fiction. | Dating (Social customs)—Fiction. | BISAC: JUVENILE FICTION / Social Issues / New Experience. | JUVENILE FICTION / Social Issues / Dating & Sex. | JUVENILE FICTION / Social Issues / Friendship.

Classification: LCC PZ7.1.R673 Ch 2016 (print) | LCC PZ7.1.R673 (ebook) | DDC [Fic]—dc23

LC record available at
https://lccn.loc.gov/2016005846