Happy Place

by Emily Henry

“Because men never really picked me up.”

“Once men get to know me, they’re sometimes interested, but I’m not the one their eyes go to first.

He’s a golden boy. I’m a girl whose life has been drawn in shades of gray.

You are in all of my happiest places.

“End of an era,” I say. “Nah.” His eyes slice sideways. “Another beginning.”

“In every universe, it’s you for me. Even if it’s not me for you.”

“And then I met you, and I didn’t feel so lost or aimless. Because even if there was nothing else for me, it felt like loving you was what I was made for.

“Love means constantly saying you’re sorry, and then doing better.”

“So many things could go right too.”

“Are you saying I can come home?” “I’m saying,” he murmurs softly, “it’s not home unless you’re there.”

“Because it makes me happy,” I say. “And I don’t consider anything that does that a waste of time.”

I should probably tell U I resented U, bc I thought U were just like them, and so they always liked U more. Now I’m realizing how much pressure U must’ve felt, and maybe if

we’d acted like sisters sooner, things could have been different. So this might not mean all that much, but for what it’s worth, I’m proud of U. And Mom will def get over this, eventually. She got over my bellybutton ring.