Happily Ever Afters

by Elise Bryant

And my tight curls look good eventually, but it’s basically a part-time job to get them there.

Most of those stories don’t have protagonists who look like me. But that’s nothing new. I usually have no problem mentally superimposing myself onto white-girl love interests.

But a good love story is smart. Empowering.

“I don’t want to be anyone’s second choice, Tessa,” he says, “some sort of consolation prize. You’ve always been my first choice, and I deserve that back. Can you tell me that I’m your first choice?”