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Perhaps I’m getting a little ahead of myself. But serious about the drink.

  —D

  Subject: Re: Ummmmmm . . .

  From: Emily Roberts

  Date: Fri, Oct 10 at 1:14 PM

  To: David Meyer

  David,

  It was great running into you. Totally ignoring the “do I mention this to Maddy” question because, well, it’s a big question and one that doesn’t need to be answered right now . . . unlike yours, which does require an answer: Thursday sounds awesome. Super fun night redux!

  —E

  Subject: Re: Ummmmmm . . .

  From: David Meyer

  Date: Fri, Oct 10 at 1:48 PM

  To: Emily Roberts

  This is either a really good or a really horrendous decision. But I’m okay with that if you are.

  I’ll be out of the office by 7:30. Does 8:15 work for you? That should give me enough time to go home, take off my suit, deliberate on which flannel shirt to wear, and come meet you . . .

  Subject: Re: Ummmmmm . . .

  From: Emily Roberts

  Date: Fri, Oct 10 at 2:06 PM

  To: David Meyer

  Perfect.

  You would think that dealing with the fallout of our two beloved pals would have made me lose all faith in relationships. Luckily, I’m a sucker for a good flannel shirt. Since you picked the easy part, you rat, I’ll do the hard part: Da Silvano?

  —E

  Subject: Re: Ummmmmm . . .

  From: David Meyer

  Date: Fri, Oct 10 at 3:12 PM

  To: Emily Roberts

  Mmmmm rigatoni. I like where your head is at.

  You know what? I’m just going to come right out and say it. I’m over this small plate stuff. (Sorry Elliot.) Why does every trendy restaurant advertise that like it’s a selling point?

  Here’s a novel concept: big plates. So I will actually be full when I leave. You’re welcome, America.

  Really looking forward to seeing you again.

  Subject: (no subject)

  From: Emily Roberts

  Date: Fri, Oct 17 at 8:42 AM

  To: David Meyer

  Good morning!

  You know what’s even worse than being hungover? Being hungover and having to teach long division to a bunch of kids with ADHD.

  Anyway, since I just spent months doing the emotional equivalent of unfurling motivational speaking posters for my best friend, saying things like “Be yourself!” and “Don’t worry about his reaction so much!” I guess it’s only fair that I take my own advice and say, simply . . .

  That was so awesome.

  Can we do it again, like, yesterday?

  Subject: So . . .

  From: David Meyer

  Date: Tue, Nov 4 at 4:34 PM

  To: Emily Roberts

  So Elliot keeps asking me what I want to do for my birthday. Still haven’t told him that I won’t be in town . . .

  I’m sitting at my desk holding a quarter. Heads, I tell Elliot first. Tails, you tell Madeline first.

  Call it?

  Subject: Re: So . . .

  From: Emily Roberts

  Date: Tue, Nov 4 at 5:15 PM

  To: David Meyer

  TAILS.

  (I kind of love how we’re doing this btw: a little bit of chance, a little bit of trust . . .)

  Subject: Re: So . . .

  From: David Meyer

  Date: Tue, Nov 4 at 5:23 PM

  To: Emily Roberts

  I love it too. Especially that the “this” you speak of could refer to either the coin toss or two people in a . . . relationship? :) Either way, let’s do this thing.

  Subject: Re: So . . .

  From: David Meyer

  Date: Tue, Nov 4 at 5:24 PM

  To: Emily Roberts

  Okay the coin bounced off the table. Shit.

  I guess this means we just tell them at the same time?

  Subject: Re: So . . .

  From: Emily Roberts

  Date: Tue, Nov 4 at 5:28 PM

  To: David Meyer

  Swell.

  We can do it together via conference call this weekend from Montauk.

  Honestly, I don’t know how much Madeline will even flip out. Especially since she has a nice little cushion now. She’s started dating someone. He’s got a job that takes place during the day, doesn’t own a single piece of vinyl, and works in finance. But I like him. He raises money for hospitals or something. They have spent literally every night together this week. I haven’t seen her this happy in, well, months.

  Subject: Re: So . . .

  From: David Meyer

  Date: Tue, Nov 4 at 5:34 PM

  To: Emily Roberts

  Well, Elliot’s spent every night this week bitching about his various Tinder dates, so it appears order has been restored.

  Why do I have the feeling Madeline and Mr. Raises Money for Hospitals are going to get married?

  Subject: Re: So . . .

  From: Emily Roberts

  Date: Tue, Nov 4 at 5:38 PM

  To: David Meyer

  I think they might! I know that’s silly because it’s early but this relationship is clearly easy for both of them.

  They both want it and she is a very happy camper. But you want to know the A #1 reason I think it’s going to work out?

  She hasn’t forwarded me a single email of his.

  About the Authors

  NEEL SHAH is a screenwriter in Los Angeles. He used to be a reporter at the New York Post and his work has appeared in Glamour, GQ, and New York magazine.

  SKYE CHATHAM is a writer living in New York. Her work has appeared in various publications, including GQ and Maxim.

  Discover great authors, exclusive offers, and more at hc.com.

  Credits

  Cover design and illustrations by Nina Cosford

  Copyright

  This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the authors’ imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  READ BOTTOM UP. Copyright © 2015 by Skye Chatham and Neel Shah. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.

  FIRST EDITION

  ISBN 978-0-06-226213-4

  EPub Edition APRIL 2015 ISBN 9780062262196

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