Fall at Once

by Nora Everly

“Why is fall so pretty when everything is literally dying?” I asked Gigi, apropos of nothing. “It’s the way of the world. Things have to die to make room for the new.

I always say good riddance to bad rubbish. Let the trash take itself out, you know?”

The current Basil is a flatulent little thing. Just something to watch out for in case you haven’t experienced him crop dusting the living room on his way to the backyard doggy door.” “I have had the olfactory pleasure. I know he thinks it’s funny, too. Have you noticed the look on his face before he goes outside?” “I have seen it, and it’s truly diabolical.

She was like fucking sunshine, and I was nothing but a grumpy, dark cloud. But worse, she seemed into me, and I fucking loved it.

Two things to consider. One—Ross is a giant douche, and we hate him. It would have been a shut-up ring if he proposed to you that night—like a ‘will you marry me and shut the fuck up about it’ kind of thing. He would have been one of those wedding reception cake-smashed-in-your-face guys, Madi. It wouldn’t have been holy matrimony; it would have been holy shit; what was I thinking? And you know it. You did the right thing by dumping his ass and running away. You dodged a huge bullet.”

I don’t know what I want from him, and that’s my problem. Therefore, I now want nothing. It’s logical. If I can’t have love. Then I want logic.”

Then there’s the whole Madi situation.” “Yeah. That. I mean, her. The situation.” His eyes flicked to mine in surprise. “You’re admitting there’s a situation now. Wow. That’s good. You’re making progress. I’m proud of you.” “Well, I can’t stop fucking thinking about her. Does that mean there’s a situation?”

What if it doesn’t work out?” “But what if it does? Look at it this way. You’ve already fucked it all up by having feelings for her. What are you going to do? Will you watch her date someone else? Watch her bring some dumbass to Gigi’s place for the holidays? No. You need to be that holiday dumbass, Cole.”

He was super shy about having his picture taken, which was completely adorable. I wanted to cuddle him. In his lap. Naked. Damn it.

“There is no place I’d rather be than here with you. Believe that. You deserve a man who will take care of you, respect you, and treat you like the amazing woman that you are. Not some dumb motherfucker who would try to humiliate you in a goddamn bar.”

It’s not your problem that he didn’t know what to do with you when he was lucky enough to have you.”

I’ve never been the center of attention like this before, and I don’t think I like it too much.” “I have. But at least this time, it’s for something I wanted.”

This entire damn town was the best place I’d ever lived. Freaking look at it. It was like the set decorator for Gilmore Girls had stopped by and did her thing. It was an ode to fall in all its glory, dang it.

“Is the coast clear?” “Yeah, she left. Someday, you’ll have to let me know what happened between you because I do not understand this one bit. She still talks to Mom. Did you know that?” “Yeah, I know. But today is not someday, and I don’t want to discuss it.”

You’re supposed to tell your kids not to solve their problems with their fists; it has to be in the proverbial parenting rule book somewhere, right? But sometimes you just have to lay an asshole out, Cole. Hit first and ask questions later.

“Say it,” he ground out. “Say anything, and I’ll do it. I’m yours, Madi. You own me. You steal the breath straight out of my body every time I’m lucky enough to get my hands on you.”