Fall at Once

by Nora Everly

“It’s the way of the world. Things have to die to make room for the new.

I had given up on men, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t still enjoy the view.

All the Winslow women were beautiful in their own right, but there was something so different, so fascinating about Madison.

He always said life was like a mirror. It will smile at you if you smile at it. I

She was cute. She was beautiful. Too fucking irresistible is what she was. I didn’t know whether to love it or hate how attracted to her I had become.

You’re nice. Did you actually smile at her? Did it hurt? Is your face going to be okay?”

don’t be embarrassed when you get overwhelmed by your feelings and have to let them out.”

I want you, and I shouldn’t You’re gorgeous, hilarious, smart, and funny. My kids adore you, and I hate that I want you so bad.

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.

“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.”

“Yes, please. I can feel everyone’s eyes on us. 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.”

“You kiss me this time. Do anything you want to me. Climb in my lap, shove me against

the door, take what you need, go as far as you want⁠—”