Free Not Ready To Fall by Sophie Monroe

 
    CHAPTER ONE
    MEETINGS OF THE UNEXPECTED KIND
     
    Fairytales aren't found, they're made. Just like a house, they're laid brick by brick, piece by piece. They're made of hardships, tears, fears, realities, happiness, but mostly, love.
    There are so many definitions of love. Everyone loves differently. My definition is, having someone that knows and sees all of you. Your fears, flaws, weaknesses, beauty, and adventure. To truly be soul-baringly (yeah, I made that word up) naked with someone.
    To be able to be weird and ridiculous in their presence and know in their head, they are thinking, that's my weirdo, hands off! The fear of falling sometimes holds us back, as does unrealistic expectations of what love should be. Love should be organic. When you love with no expectation, you are sometimes given the greatest reward.
    Here's to life's greatest fall...
     
     
    Charlotte
     
    At twenty-eight, Charlotte Baker thought she had her life figured out. The nice guy, the good job, a great apartment, and a little money in the bank. Unfortunately, she couldn't have been more wrong.
    Her boyfriend of six years, turned fiancé, decided he wanted different things. Three weeks ago, she came home from work to find all his things gone or in boxes. A note was front and center on the dining room table.
    Charlotte,
    I'm sorry to have left you like this, but I feel like it's the easiest way for both of us. Our relationship has run its course and has for some time. I wish you all the best in all that you do. I'll be in touch soon to get the rest of my belongings. 
    Owen
    Heartbroken and blindsided, she threw herself into her work and looking for answers. She couldn't understand how one day they were set on building a future together, and the next he was gone with little, make that no, explanation. 
    After weeks of moping around, her girlfriends finally convinced her that she was going out tonight. Even if it meant kidnapping. Begrudgingly, she finally agreed. She'd lost weight and hadn't been sleeping much. She knew the bags under her eyes were starting to form bags. She needed to snap out of it. So what if Owen decided to bail. Fuck him. She deserved better, and she knew it. It didn't matter how much she repeated it to herself, she couldn't help but feel sad, and a little lost.
    Unplugging the curling iron, she took one last look in the mirror. As far as she was concerned it was as good as it was going to get. She paired her black leggings and cream colored peasant shirt with a pair of black strappy sandals, before grabbing her clutch and heading for her Mustang.
     
    Jack
    At thirty-two, Jack Easton was in the process of building a successful business. Unlucky in love, he threw himself into his work and spending time with his friends. Always the adventurous type, he was the risk taker in the bunch. He had a smile that couldn't help but be noticed, and a way of always drawing a crowd.
    Tonight was much like any other Saturday night, he was heading to the bar for a night of drinking with his buddies. Grabbing the keys to his GMC truck, he headed out the door to Binge.
     
    Charlotte
    Her first thoughts opening the door were the place smelled like stale cigarettes and beer. It was just clean enough to be deemed an acceptable place to converse. She spotted her girlfriends over at the far end of the bar and started making her way over. Feeling socially awkward, she scanned the bar and surrounding tables. People gathered chatting happily over their alcoholic beverages and appetizers. She envied, and almost despised, the couples that looked happily in love.
    She remembered a time, not long ago, when that was her. Pushing that emotion aside, she decided she was going to make the best of the evening. She thought maybe she'd even look for a rebound to get back in the game, but that wasn't her style. She wasn't a risk taker. She was the orderly planner, the one that liked to always know what was coming. She was the saver, except she couldn't save her