Fall at Once (Cozy Creek Collection, #3)

by Nora Everly

To be clear, nothing was wrong with being thirty—it just felt like an arbitrary marker in time I’d set for myself and failed to live up to. Did I have kids? No. A house? No. A husband? No.

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

“He’s an idiot, honey. He’s the dumbest cat I’ve ever met. He’s sweet as can be, though.”

These situations are what books and wine were for. And cats, I had cats to love now.

Don’t be like me. There are no take-it-off dresses in my closet anymore, and cute undies are a thing of the past. I’m wearing granny panties right now. I have no hope, and I’m all out of time, patience, and the will to tolerate any more bullshit from some dumb-ass man.

Do eyeballs feel happiness? Because I think mine are fucking overjoyed right now. And don’t get me started on my ovaries.

“Sure, my kids love them, but can’t a man enjoy a high-quality dinosaur-shaped nugget from time to time?”

Actions over words. That was the key. Promises were too easy to break.

nudie booty towel stroll

“You are a fighter, Madi. I raised all of you girls to go after what you want. But you are also my sweetest girl. You are a people pleaser. You want everyone to be happy, and I love that about you. But you need to start pleasing yourself first. You matter.”