Catch a Falling Star (37 page)

nings. Even when other people thought we were writing them

wrong. I didn’t know if Adam and I could make our separate

worlds work in the future, but for today — we had a tour to

finish.

Not everyone liked a Hollywood ending.

But I did. As long as it was
my
Hollywood ending.

Adam tilted his perfect movie-star head and gave me his signa-

ture brand of puppy-dog eyes. “Come on. What can I say, Carter

Moon? I missed you.”

I melted. “Where’s Mik?” I tossed the rag I’d been holding

onto a nearby table.

“I gave Mik the day off.”

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“Isn’t that a security problem?”

“I’ll risk it.” He held out his arms, and I walked through our

gate and into them.

Adam pulled me to him, and his scent of spice and clean

soap engulfed me. I inhaled as he bent down to me. When he

kissed me, his lips covered mine, warm and real, my body, my

heart, everything — fireworks. And I knew this kiss was real.

That it was meant for me. Not Small-Town Girl. Not Tabloid

Girlfriend. Me.

No, this moment wasn’t a movie.

It was better.

Because this moment was mine.

So I leaned into him and kissed him back.

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acknowledgments

in life, we have our little galaxies sparkling with the stars who

love and support us. And I couldn’t have written
Catch a Falling

Star
without my shining stars. . . .

First, a huge thank you to my agent, Melissa Sarver, who,

when I said, I want to write about a small town, and our cultural

obsession with fame and achievement, and, oh yeah — I want to

make it a love story . . . and feature Christmas . . . and stargazing,

didn’t blink before encouraging me, and then guided me through

so many drafts of this novel. You’re amazing, Melissa. I’m also

grateful to Molly Jaffa and everyone over at Folio Literary

Management for their ongoing support.

I found my dream editor in Jody Corbett. Jody, you elevated this

book in your own swoon-worthy way. Also, thanks to the whole

team at Scholastic, with a special shout out to Roz Hilden, Elizabeth

Starr Baer, and Yaffa Jaskoll. As Jody says, it truly takes a village to

make a book. This has been an exceptionally nice village to dwell in.

And to my first readers: Michael Bodie, Gabrielle Carolina,

Kirsten Casey, Erin Dixon, Tanya Egan Gibson, Alison Jones-

Pomatto, and Loretta Ramos — you were all generous and honest

and kind in your early feedback of this book. I’m so grateful.

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I’m thankful to my two writing groups. My Monday mornings

with Annie, Jaime, and Kirsten — ladies, you know how much I

love you. And a group-hug to Mark, Bev, Jeff, Brad, and Annie

(you poor souls read too many openings of this book to count).

Also, thank you to Angie and Kit and everyone at The Book Seller.

I’m a lucky author to have a bookstore like you in my corner.

There were many elements of this book I couldn’t have tackled

without the support of the following people who were willing to

share their expertise: Chris Lewis (law enforcement); Emily

Gallup (understanding addiction and rehab cycles); Wendy, Santia,

and everyone at Center Stage Dance Studio; and Michael and Loretta

(your Hollywood and film knowledge saved me!). Any mistakes

are mine and not theirs.

As for the celestial details, I wanted to mention how much I

relied on NASA’s website as well as Universe Today to solidify the

random star facts swimming around in my brain that I’ve picked

up over the years. Extra thanks to Krista Witt for her science eye,

and also, thanks to the many friends and family (too many to list)

who sent me little anecdotes and star facts as I was writing this.

Carter has wonderful parents and I’m lucky to have the ones

who raised me as well as the ones who got stuck with me because

I married their son. Bill and Linda Culbertson and Dick and Daisy

Sagebiel — there is nothing quite like having people believe in you

unconditionally. Thank you.

And finally, the biggest thanks to Peter and Anabella, my star-

gazing companions. There is no one else with whom I’d rather

watch the sky.

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about the author

kim Culbertson is the author of
Instructions for a Broken Heart
,
a

Northern California Book Award winner; and
Songs for a Teenage

Nomad
. When she’s not writing young adult novels, she teaches

high school creative writing. Kim lives with her husband and

their daughter in Northern California. For more about Kim, visit

www.kimculbertson.com.

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