An Open Letter to my Best Friends

The words “best friend” is used a lot in my home–mostly by me–because that’s what I feel I have. I have acquaintances or I have best friends. It’s probably more of a statement about me than anything. Maybe I live in extremes? Maybe I like having a tribe of people who I feel are important enough? Mostly, I’d like to think it’s because a person can have several best friends.

My one best friend is great in crisis. I know that I can call on her at any time when I’m drowning and she will not just toss me a life preserver, but she’ll swim out in the murky water, hook her arm around me, and swim me back to shore.

My other best friend is the caretaker. If I’m sick, need something hemmed, or organized, she’s my girl.

Each person in my life has filled a part of me that I’ve needed, and I’m eternally grateful to them.

In each of my books, I’ve written that one person who just gets the heroine. She’s her other half in some ways. She calls her on her shit, supports her with a firm hand, and usually pushes her. It’s because of the women in my life who do the same.

You see, We Own Tonight was written based on four people who are MY people. My best friends. They’ve been through thick and thin. Been at my side when I was at my lowest. They know things about my life that very few do. They are my tribe. They are my sisters in every way that matters. They’re my family. They’re Heather, Kristin, Nicole, and Danielle.

We went to a concert for our favorite 90s boy band and laughed, drank, and made up “what if” stories. It was fun to imagine what would happen if that was us. Since they know pretty much everything we talk about is fair game for a book, they looked at me and told me to write it.

So I did.

Now, the last book will be releasing and I find myself both happy and sad. Happy because I got to share a piece of my friends with you. Hopefully, you’ve seen the beautiful souls that they are because they’re the best people in the world. Through this last year and half of writing those four stories, I’ve come to see just how special the bond we share is. Some have probably thought they were a bit intrusive, and we are, maybe a little crazy, which we are as well, but we love. We love each other despite all the faults and errors we make.

To my best friends:

Thank you.

We don’t talk every day. Hell, sometimes we go months without a word, but if the floor dropped we don’t wonder. We know that we’ll be there. Thank you for loving me, supporting me, believing in me when I’m not strong enough to do it. Thank you for allowing me into your hearts, although I’m not sure you had a choice because I would’ve found a way. You have no idea how much I rely on you even when it doesn’t seem like it. I hear your words in my heart when I need them.

So many times we’re told how lucky we are, and I don’t know that we even comprehend how true it is. In one last time I wrote this line, and then sat there thinking about how poignant it was. Many people will read and it and probably never think of it again, but it was the sum of what our friendship means.

No one in this tribe walks alone.

It’s true.

Not one of you ever has to walk alone because I will always be beside you. Always. I love you with my whole heart.

Now, enough of the mushy stuff and call me back!