Page 2 of To Fall or Not to Fall

"Oh, high school, I don't miss it." Aria heads behind the counter and turns the espresso machine on. "I'm going to make myself a mocha. Want anything?"

"No, thanks." The bell goes off again, and I instinctively turn toward the entrance with my brightest smile.

"Welcome to—oh, hi Arabella." I step forward and give my other best friend, Arabella, a quick hug.

"You're up early today." I survey her still-tired face and smile. "Or should I say, barely up?"

"I'm up." She yawns loudly and rubs her eyes. "I'll have one, please, Aria." She points at the espresso machine. "And by one, I mean a triple shot of the darkest coffee bean you have, please."

"Coming right up, ma'am."

"The store looks festive." Arabella surveys all the pumpkins and the toadstools I've placed all over the ground. "I suppose our place will look like this by the weekend?"

"Perhaps." I don't even hide my grin at her comment.

I already started unpacking the house décor to start decorating the place this weekend.

Arabella, Aria, and I share a small cottage near the beach and have lived together for the last six years, since we graduated from high school.

We are all responsible for one themed season of decorating in the home.

I am the fall queen, Aria is the Christmas queen, and Arabella is the summer queen.

"Well, Summer is almost done, and I know you like to get ready for fall earlier and earlier each year." She looks around the empty store. "Not many tourists left in town right now, huh?"

"Yeah." I let out a deep sigh. "I need to figure out a way to increase revenue, or we're in trouble here.

" I stare at my two best friends as I play with my long, dark, curly hair.

It's what I always do when I'm nervous. "I don't know what I will do if I have to close down the store.

" Popsicle must sense my dismay because she suddenly comes running back to me and rubs against my leg.

I reach down and scratch her between the ears, and she licks my fingers.

"Don't worry." I pick her up. "You'll still get your treats.

" She wiggles against me and tries to lick my face.

"Popsicle won’t let anything happen to us because she’s the best of us.

She lives to give back to us.” Aria hands a cup to Arabella and then leans back against one of the shelves, beaming at her rhyme.

Neither Arabella or I say anything in response.

We are used to Aria making up rhymes every five minutes.

Just like they are used to me quoting random books, and Arabella talks about taking down the man, like we’re wrestlers or something.

“But I suppose we should come up with an idea before we have to rely on your naughty dog to get us out of trouble.” Popsicle lets out a low whine, but I don’t defend her because she is as naughty as they come.

“I know, but what?” I throw my hands up in the air in exasperation, my brown eyes feeling weary and tired. “It’s not like I can earn extra money dancing on the countertops. I don’t have balance.”

“Nor rhythm,” Arabella adds, and I glare at her. “Not trying to be mean, Ava, but you can’t dance or sing.”

“So there goes the hope that I’m discovered by a record producer as I sing Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo songs around the store.”

“Maybe that’s why we don’t have any customers.” Aria giggles, and I can’t help but join her. I’m not offended by the jokes. Everyone knows I can’t carry a tune to save my life. “They heard your pitchy voice all the way down Main Street.”

“I mean, I heard her when I was in the hotel last night.” Arabella pretends to stick her fingers in her ears, and I’m about to throw a pumpkin at her, when the bell above the entrance rings again.

“Welcome to Beachy Balls, Biscuits, we’ve just all been unlucky in love.

And when I say unlucky, that’s an understatement.

I dated a man who treated me to a dinner date and left me with the $300 bill.

Arabella dated a guy who worked at a funeral home and wanted to have a date in a coffin.

And Aria’s last date asked her to take off his diaper and wipe his butt.

She got out of there as he was pulling his jeans down.

Suffice it to say, we are all in “shitty dating experiences land,” and I don’t see tickets to another land showing up in our mailbox anytime soon.

I stare at my two friends and finally speak. “Am I really that much of a loser?”

“Ava, you are not a loser,” Aria says quickly. “You are wonderful.”

“And if you’re a loser, then we’re all losers, let’s face it,” Arabella adds, wrinkling her cute button nose.

Even though Arabella is wearing sweatpants and a baggy top, she still looks adorable.

She’s lucky enough to have one of those pretty faces that always look beautiful.

I think that’s why so many corporate people don’t understand why she’s trying to take them down.

“Your grandma’s right. When’s the last time any of us actually had a serious relationship? ”

I glare at her. “Don’t you ever say that my grandma’s right again.” I start giggling. Because then I’m going to have to rip off my head and eat it.”

“You are not a loser. We’re not losers. But we do want boyfriends, yet have none.

And if I’m being honest, my mom’s putting the pressure on me, as well, because my cousin is going to be bringing some guy to Thanksgiving, and if I don’t have anyone, the numbers are going to be odd.

” Arabella rolls her eyes as she mimics her mom’s Southern accent.

I roll my eyes. “That sucks. What can we do, though? I know we’re not the only single women in town who want dates for the festival.”

“Can we find them by putting our heads together?” Aria asks out loud. “Can we find men? Can we bring them to our den? Can we exist in sin?” She giggles. “I guess you know where my head's at.”

“I guess, but my focus right now is on the bookstore, not on getting laid,” I say.

“I really need to increase revenue, or I’m not going to have a business.

If I don’t have a business, then I’m not going to care about being with anyone.

I don’t want to just be a housewife. I want to have it all.

I want to have the perfect husband, wonderful kids, and a great job. ”

“I know,” Aria says. “I wish someone would just find him for me and make my life easy.”

“Oh my gosh,” I say as an idea hits me. “I just had the best idea.” I rub my hands together in excitement.

“Ooooh, what?” Arabella comes forward, excitement in her voice.

“What if I start a matchmaking service for women to meet someone to go to the festival with, and then spend the rest of the holiday season together? We’re not the only women who are looking for dates.

What if I try and find all the single women in town handsome dates for the festival, Thanksgiving, Christmas?

And we can have events at the store, which will also increase traffic and revenue. ”

I’m getting excited. “We could have lots of really cute, cozy-themed events like pumpkin pie competitions, pumpkin spice latte speed-dating events, and—oh my gosh, all the ideas are coming to me so quickly. I’m so excited!”

“That sounds amazing!” Aria nods enthusiastically. “I can see it now. Maybe we could also have a hayride at the farm, then end it here and have apple cider reading events.”

“Yes! That’s an amazing idea! Maybe we can have something where people have to read their favorite lines from books and talk about love, or maybe we can do an open mic night or something.”

“Yeah, I mean, that sounds really cool,” Arabella says slowly, ever the pessimist. “But do you think it’s really going to work?”

“I hope so. Because I don’t have many other ideas, and I need at least one thing to go right in my life.

I can’t afford to lose this place, and there’s no way I’m selling out to a big corporation that’s just going to build another crappy-ass hotel.

” I stare at Arabella and Aria and sigh.

“And I would love to get Granny off of my ass and show Eloise Laribel she’s not the only woman that can meet the love of their life. ”

Arabella grins. “Exactly. We’re going to get rid of all the greedy corporations that already exist in our beautiful small town and stop any new ones from coming, while also meeting the loves of our lives.”

“You got that right.” I grin. “This autumn, we’re all going to fall hard for our soulmates.”