Can't Help Falling (Sweater Weather, #3)

by Courtney Walsh

I stay home and read. A lot. Pajamas > Party.

Real

Fictional men are always better than the real ones. Always. Probably because they’re written by women.

this kind of sweep me off my feet romance is what I’m waiting for. I won’t settle.

I want Mr. Darcy clenching his hand after helping Elizabeth into the carriage. Or Ryan Reynolds bursting into my workplace to profess his love for me after faking our engagement. Or Harry telling Sally that he wants the rest of their lives to start as soon as possible.

And all at once, a flicker of one of my favorite novels, Paradise Bound, races through my mind. A woman in distress, a horrible fire, and a rugged man, all set against the backdrop of the island of Bali.

The man who saved my life is a grown-up version of the boy who broke my heart.

AHHHHHHHHH

Gracie Mitchell,

Crazy name coincidence

I’ve stated very plainly (albeit anonymously) what kind of guy I’m holding out for, and Owen Larrabee doesn’t meet any of my criteria.

Sure he doesn’t

Oh my gosh. There are periods at the ends of those texts. Is he mad? Did I offend him? How should I read that?

I silently pray to the spirit of Jane Austen that post-apocalyptic zombie romance thrillers don’t become a new genre. We’ve already got Amish vampires and NASCAR romance, and those are bad enough.

I’m Elphaba when Madame Morrible tells her that one day she might get to work with the Wizard.

“She’s like Black Widow with the Hulk.

Fr

But this is not a novel. This is real life. My real life.

Hmm

Some of the best coaches could never play professionally in their sport, but they understand how the sport works and how to make their players better at it. That’s me. I understand how relationships work. I can even troubleshoot how to make them better. But for whatever reason, I haven’t quite figured out how to make one work for me.

“You’re going to sit through Pride and Prejudice?” I’m back to my lazy-eyed peering at him. “If it’s one of your favorites, sure,” he says, then clicks the remote to select the movie. “I want to know what things you like.”

I’m swooning

Emaline Smart can handle herself. It’s shocking, and impressive, and really, really hot.

Emaline Rose.

Adorable name

“I get it now. I understand why someone would be a fool for love. That whole ‘when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with someone, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible’ thing makes sense to me now.”

“I tried not to fall for you, I really did. But I can’t stop thinking about you. And me. And I’ve been trying to think of some super romantic way to tell you because I know how you feel about that stuff, but the truth is, I just want you to know. I want you to know that I don’t want to spend another day without you. I don’t want to keep wondering how it feels to kiss you. I don’t want to have to ask for permission to hold your hand or stop over at your house without calling first. I want this—us—to work. And I didn’t think I’d ever want that again.”

So, while she may not need romance, I’m still going to find ways to give it to her. Because love really does make fools of us all. And I’ll be happy to be a fool for Emmy for the rest of my life.