Emily Giffin is offering readers a page-turning exploration of wealth and privilege with her latest novel.
The author has exclusively shared an excerpt ofAll We Ever Wantedwith EW ahead of its June 26 release.
Read on below, andpre-order All We Ever Wanted here.
Credit: Jeff Christensen/AP/REX/Shutterstock
And by typical, I dont mean normal in any mainstream American way.
Most important, I dont think I ever flaunted our wealth.
If anything, it embarrassed me.
As a result, Julie didnt hold our money against me.
Occasionally Juliewouldcall Kirk out, though, not for being showy like Melanie but for having elitist tendencies.
As in: hes aBrowning.
Looking back, I wonder if that may have explained my moms preoccupation with money.
Then again, my mom could pretty much tell you anything about anyone in Bristol.
This was a good thing, especially for Max, who came out during college.
My parents didnt miss a beat.
Hell, I probably wasnt Kirks first choice on paper, either.
But what can I say?
He picked me anyway.
Id always told myself that he fell in love with my personalitywithmethe same way I fell in love withhim.
I had to admit that when discussing our relationship, Kirk often referenced my looks.
Something was off in our relationship.
Was it the money?
Had Kirk become too obsessed with it?
I was being too hard on him.
You look fabulous, he suddenly said, looking over at me, softening me further.
Thanks, honey, I said in a low voice.
I cant wait to take it off you, he whispered, so the driver wouldnt hear him.
He gave me a seductive look, then took another drink.
Maybethatwas it, I thought.
We definitely both needed to ease up on our social calendars.
Maybe that would come when Finch went to college in the fall.
Who have you told?
Other than family, only Julie and Melanie, I said.
I didnt want to brag .
but I couldnt help myself.
His expression mirrored the way I felta mix of pride and disbelief.
Finch was a good student, and had gotten into Vanderbilt and Virginia earlier that winter.
But I told myself that money alone couldnt gain a kid admission to the Ivy League.
Finch had worked hard, and I was so proud of him.
Focus on that, I told myself.
Focus on the positive.
Poor Polly, Kirk said.
They wont last a semester.
There was nothing I hadnt known about him, nothing he wouldnt have shared.
I put my phone back in my bag, sighed, and said, Are you ready for tonight?
he asked, draining his bourbon as we turned onto Sixth Avenue.
I said, meaninghisspeech, though I would be standing beside him, offering him moral support.
Kirk gave me a blank stare.
Which gala is this, again?
I hope youre kidding?
Its hard to keep them all straight
I sighed and said, TheHopeGala, honey.
And we are hoping forwhat, exactly?
he asked with a smirk.
Suicide awareness and prevention, I said.
Were being honored, remember?
he asked, now starting to annoy me.
It was too horrible for me to process, even all these months later.
Im kidding, Kirk said, as he reached out to pat my leg.
I nodded, thinking that Kirk wasalwaysready.
The most confident, competent man Id ever known.
A moment later, we pulled up to the hotel.
A handsome young valet swung open my door, issuing a brisk welcome.
Will you be checking in tonight, madame?
I told him no, we were here for the gala.
Ahead of me, I saw Melanie chatting amid a cluster of friends and acquaintances.
She rushed toward me, giving me air kisses and compliments.
You look amazing, too.
I reached up to her face, my fingertips grazing the most gorgeous chandelier diamond earrings.
Newly acquired but vintage, she said.
Latest apology from you know who.
I smiled and glanced around for her husband.
Where is Todd, anyway?
she said, rolling her eyes.
Thats right, I said, thinking that it was hard to keep up with Todds boondoggles.
He was worse than Kirk.Will you share this fella with me tonight?
Melanie asked with a shimmy of her shoulders as Kirk rounded the car and joined us.
Im sure he has no objections, I said, smiling.
An accomplished flirt, Kirk nodded, giving Melanie a double-cheek kiss.
You lookstunning, he told her.
She smiled and thanked him, then shouted, Omigod!
You must be so over-the-moon proud!
Has Beau made a final decision?
Kirk asked, shifting the attention to Melanies son.
Its looking like Kentucky, Melanie said.
Half, Melanie said, beaming.
Good for him, Kirk said.
For years Id had the uncomfortable feeling that Kirk had been jealous of Beaus baseball career.
He often accused Melanie and Todd of being obnoxious, bragging too much about all-star this and that.
But now it was easy for Kirk to be gracious; Finch had won, after all.
At least thats how I knew my husband saw it.
As Melanie flitted off to greet another friend, Kirk announced that he was going to find the bar.
Do you want a drink?
he asked, usually quite chivalrous at the start of the evening.
It was the end of the night that sometimes got iffy.
Can we hey not make it a late night?
The rest of the night followed the usual gala script, beginning with cocktails and a silent auction.
Nina and Kirk Browning.
He then got to the reason we were here tonight, his voice growing somber.
I stared at his strong profile, thinking how handsome he was.
My wife, Nina, and I have a son named Finch, he said.
In the fall, he will be headed off to college.
I looked past the bright lights into a sea of faces as Kirk continued.
For the last eighteen years, our life has revolved around him.
And I just cant imagine the horror of losing him.
But as Kirk went on to talk about the organization, my mind guiltily wandered back toourlife,ourson.
All the opportunity that stretched ahead for him.
This is a fight forallof our children.
Thank you so much.
He knew hed nailed it.
Perfect, I whispered.
Only things were actually far from perfect.
Excerpted fromAll We Ever Wantedby Emily Giffin.
Copyright 2018 by Emily Giffin.
No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
