Authors: Lauren Weisberger

Revenge Wears Prada (48 page)

BOOK: Revenge Wears Prada

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“Oliver? I can’t believe he’s a real person. I haven’t seen him in, what? Ten years? How is he?”

“He’s great. Lives in San Fran, works at Google, has some insanely sexy girlfriend who calls him day and night. He’s like a full-fledged person. It’s the strangest thing.”

“Bring him along on Sunday, I’d love to see him. It’s been so many years . . .”

“I’m not sure that pizza at five o’clock with his brother and a kid are at the top of his list, but I’ll definitely ask him.”

“Tell him I want to see him!”

“I will. I promise. I’m sure he’d love to see you, too. He always—” Alex’s cheeks flushed.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“Alex! He always what?”

“He always thought we would end up together. He’s never stopped asking about you.”

“That’s probably just because he wasn’t a huge fan of Sophie’s.”

“No, actually, he was. He thought she was super-hot, and—”

Andy held her hand up. “I’m good.”

Alex smiled. “Sorry.”

Andy laughed and watched as Alex stood up and slung his messenger bag across his chest. She wanted so badly to hug him but didn’t want to be too forward.

Looking a little shy, perhaps even sheepish, Alex held on tightly to the bag’s strap. But he looked at her and said, “Andy? We’ll take it slow, I promise. I don’t want to rush into anything, and I know you don’t either. We’ll be careful.”

“Yes. Careful.”

“You have a daughter to think about, and I totally understand
and respect that. And we’ve both been hurt in our previous relationships, and I’m sure we’re both—”

Andy didn’t think before she acted. With her mind blissfully free of concerns—about her appearance, his reaction, what either of them would say afterward—Andy reached up on her tiptoes, threw her arms around Alex’s neck, and kissed him square on the mouth. It lasted only a couple of seconds, but it was the most natural, wonderful feeling in the world, and when she pulled away again, they grinned at each other.

“
You
can take it as slowly as you like,” she said with a serious expression. “
I
plan to dive headfirst into this with reckless abandon.”

“Oh really? Define
reckless abandon
.” Alex grinned.

And she kissed him again.

acknowledgments

Thank you doesn’t begin to adequately express my gratitude to Sloan Harris, my agent, friend, and, when necessary, occasional shrink. There is no panic you can’t allay, no problem you can’t solve. Thank you for your wisdom, your unerring guidance, and your infinite calm under pressure. It is more appreciated than you’ll ever know.

The same goes for Marysue Rucci, who for nearly ten years now (!) has been so much more than an editor: MSR, you’ve been a cheerleader and a confidante and such a sage and trusted advisor that I barely remember a writing life without you in it. From the earliest brainstorming sessions to the final edited word, you have made this book better in every imaginable way.

To my entire family at Simon & Schuster, thank you for all your brilliant work and creativity. Jon Karp, Jackie Seow, Richard Rhorer, Andrea DeWerd, Tracey Guest, Jennifer Garza, Jessica Zimmerman, and Felice Javitz: You are the best team an author could hope to have. Special thanks to Aja Pollock for all the ways
you bettered the manuscript, and to Emily Graff for everything. Literally everything.

Thanks also to the terrific team at ICM: Maarten Kooij, Kristyn Keene, Josie Freedman, Heather Karpas, and Shira Schindel. I appreciate your savvy advice and terrific ideas (and of course, your group votes). Thanks for so expertly advising me in every conceivable situation.

To the whole amazing crew in London: a tremendous thanks for your boundless enthusiasm and fantastic ideas on everything from this book’s inception to publication. We’ve been working together for over a decade now, and I feel so indebted to (and adoring of) my entire British family. At Harper Collins, thank you to Kate Elton, Lynne Drew, Claire Bord, and Louise Swannell. At Curtis Brown, a million thanks to Vivienne Schuster, Betsy Robbins, Sophie Baker, and Claire Nozieres.

To friends who were so generous with their time and expertise: Wendy Finerman, Hillary Irwin, Matthew Hiltzik, Josh Wolfe, Kyle White, Ludmilla Suvorova, and all my girlfriends, whether here in New York or elsewhere—I’m sending you each a huge hug and a plea to meet for drinks soon. Like, tomorrow.

Words can’t express the gratitude I feel for Mallory Stehle and Tracy Larry, without whom this book would literally never have happened. You will be part of our family, always.

Mom, Dad, and Dana: I love you so much. Thanks for keeping me grounded and (semi) sane, and for all the ways you offer help, encouragement, and most important, a good laugh—and always have. Thank you to my whole family, for your constant cheering and understanding and always knowing when
not
to ask about work: Bernie, Judy, Seth, Sadie, Grandma, Papa, Jackie, Mel, Allison, Dave, Sydney and Emma. The past couple years have been crazy, and we never could have survived it (or enjoyed the wild ride) without each and every one of you.

And most of all, thank you to my husband, Mike, who makes
everything
possible. This book would have never been more than
a fleeting fancy without your support, suggestions, ideas, and careful reads at every stage. Thank you isn’t enough for all the ways, big and small, you make my life—all our lives—complete. To R and S, thank you for bringing me more joy than I ever could have imagined. It is impossible not to smile when you’re near me. I love you three with all my heart.

LAUREN WEISBERGER
is the
New York Times
bestselling author of
The Devil Wears Prada
, which was published in forty languages and made into a major motion picture starring Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway. Weisberger’s three other novels,
Everyone Worth Knowing, Chasing Harry Winston,
and
Last Night at Chateau Marmont, were all New York Times bestsellers.
A graduate of Cornell University, she lives in New York City with her husband and two children. Visit
laurenweisberger.com
.

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Authors.SimonandSchuster.com/Lauren-Weisberger

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ALSO BY LAUREN WEISBERGER

Last Night at Chateau Marmont

Chasing Harry Winston

Everyone Worth Knowing

The Devil Wears Prada

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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 & Schuster hardcover edition June 2013

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Jacket design by Jackie Seow

Jacket art: Tail by Shasti O’Leary; Fabric by Michael Goldman/Getty

Author photograph by Mike Cohen Photography

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

ISBN 978-1-4391-3663-8

ISBN 978-1-4391-4695-8 (ebook)

contents

Chapter 1: As Long As She Lived

Chapter 2: Learning to Love the Hamptons: 2009

Chapter 3: You’re Walking, Sister

Chapter 4: And It’s Official!

Chapter 5: I’d Hardly Call It Dating