Page 66 of Fall at Once

I couldn’t exactly pack up and move to be with her. I had two kids going to school here. Was I supposed to uproot them for a woman, even one as amazing as Madi?

I had my job, the one I’d dreamed of since I was a little kid. I couldn’t be the Cozy Creek Fire Brigade chief somewhere else.

My entire family and my house were here. My mother would freak out if I told her I wanted to move. Dad would tell me that my home was here, that Sutters had been living in Cozy Creek since before it was even called Cozy Creek.

Everything I loved was right here in this town, except Madi. Who, as soon as Gigi’s boot came off, would be gone back to her regular life—without me.

What the fuck had I just done?

Chapter 21

Madi

Iwoke up alone. Well, not alone. I woke up with three cats in bed and no Cole—but I still felt him. I loved how he held me close after we made love and told me how much he wished he could stay with me all night. But Gigi and Kenzie were with his kids, and he had to get them.

I rolled to my side, holding my pillow against my naked body as I squinted into the early morning sunlight shining through my window. I’d slept late. I was usually up before dawn to walk Basil and get a head start in the Confectionery.

The text notification went off on my phone with an incoming text message. But it was muffled because Kenny was sitting on it. “Kenny! Move your fluffy booty.” Sage was on the pillow next to me. Watching as I flailed to the edge of the bed to reach for myphone while Victor was in his usual spot at the bottom, keeping my feet warm. “You guys, give me a break. What if it’s Cole? We like Cole. We like him a lot. Too much.”

Kenny hopped to the bed with a meow, and I snatched the phone, almost fumbling it in my haste to see who’d sent me a text. It was Cole. Yes!

COLE: Good morning, beautiful. I wish I could have woken up with you.

Tingles shot through my body. Head to toe. Oh my god.

MADI: Me too. I miss you. I started missing you the second you left.

COLE: I’ll see you later today.

I hugged the phone to my chest as if it were him that I was holding so close.

Damn it. I was falling for him. There was nowhat ifabout it now. I was invested. My heart was no longer entirely my own, and I knew it for a fact.

And not only was he amazing, but his kids were too.

I shoved thoughts of Cole out of my mind. I got up to shower and get the day started. I couldn’t think straight, not when every thought I had involved his hands on my body and his mouth on mine.

I had things to figure out.

I turned the water on and stepped into the shower, running through my routine by rote as endless thoughts tortured mymind.

I was here for two reasons: to get over my breakup and take care of Gigi. I was over my breakup—that was dead, buried, and gone. Now, all that was left was Gigi. She was the only reason I was here now. She had an appointment with her doctor this week, and let’s face it, her ankle was almost healed. Soon enough, I would have no excuse to stay.

I didn’t want to leave Cozy Creek. But I had responsibilities in Colorado Springs. I wrapped myself in a robe and padded out of the bathroom.

Ugh.Frustrated thoughts tortured me as I fed the cats and made coffee. Basil would have to be content with the backyard today. I had things to do.

I should call Kenzie. Although she was sometimes a bit out there, she was usually the most impartial if I asked her for advice.

The trouble was, I didn’t know quite what to ask.

Maybe I shouldn’t talk to her. She was firmly in the Madi should move to Cozy Creek camp, just like Gigi was. Who was I kidding? She could be impartial when it came to Cole—maybe. But not when it came to where I should live.

I needed to get out of this apartment. I couldn’t think in here, not when it was the best place I’d ever lived.

I threw on a purple legging and hoodie combo and some running shoes, styled my hair into a wet braid, and got the hell out of there to go for a walk. Or a pouty stomp. Or a stress-pacing session in the park. Whatever, I’d see how I felt when I got outside.

After locking it behind me, I stopped on the sidewalk outsidemy door and looked down the street. The weather was nothing but ideal autumn perfection today—because, of course, it was. Actual leaves were blowing in the perfectly crisp breeze—scarlet, gold, and orange.

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