Tessa O'Connell is a girl as ordinary as they come - or so she thinks. Her aim for senior year is to keep her head down yet somehow manage to convince her childhood love Jay Stone to love her back. What she isn't prepared for is for Jay's brother, Cole, to return to town and change the life she's always been seemingly content to live.
Tessa O'Connell is a girl as in love as possible. For a moment she had it all: friends, family, and the promise of a forever love. But could she end up losing it all? The crippling pain of heartbreak is fresh, and as Tessa struggles to move on in the wake of tragedy, her goal becomes to protect her heart at all costs. But it’s a task not made easy by the devastatingly gorgeous Cole Stone, who seems to have shattered her beyond repair. As Cole and Tessa manage to find their way back to one another, they embark on yet another new chapter in their lives. While attempting to navigate her first year of college, it becomes apparent to Tessa that everyone has their eyes set on Cole Stone. When status quo, clingy college girls, old insecurities, and her slightly neurotic tendencies cause her to question whether she can actually make the relationship work, it's up to Cole to show her that he's never letting go, not again. But even for Cole Grayson Stone it's not easy to convince his Shortcake of his never ending devotion as time apart, communication problems, and a quirky new group of friends start to unravel the delicate thread that binds the two together. Can the boy who once protected her from the world protect Tessa from herself?
Tessa O'Connell embodies an unbreakable spirit as she embarks on her journey as a college graduate, determined to embrace every opportunity. Moving to New York and starting a new job, she navigates life without her boyfriend, Cole, who is busy in law school. Yet, with his unwavering love, she feels empowered to build a future together, even if it means facing challenges alone. Their relationship, once fraught with insecurities, has blossomed into a resilient love capable of enduring a long-distance phase. After five years together, they are committed to overcoming obstacles that threaten their happiness. As they adapt to their new realities apart, both Tessa and Cole grapple with the changes that could drive them apart. Despite the distance, they are determined to fight for their love, surrounded by a colorful cast of characters, including friends, family, and a quirky Nana. This story captures their journey as they strive to transition into a life as a couple, facing the odds to create their forever. Readers will find a new side of Cole Stone—suited up and on his way to becoming a lawyer, yet still holding onto his reckless charm and deep affection for Tessa, his beloved Shortcake.
L'amore è un po' come una caduta libera: più intensamente ti innamori, più è doloroso toccare il fondo. E Tessa lo sa bene: dopo la rottura con Cole, è quasi certa che nessuna parte di sé sia sopravvissuta alla caduta. Con il cuore e l'anima in mille pezzi, ogni volta che lo vede, si destreggia in equilibrio precario tra la voglia di urlargli contro tutta la sua rabbia e la sua delusione, e quella di implorarlo di sdraiarsi accanto a lei e stringerla tra le braccia. Perché lei ci aveva creduto davvero, aveva sperato davvero che la loro storia fosse da «vissero per sempre felici e contenti». Eppure la vita è anche questo: le persone si lasciano di continuo, gli uomini tradiscono... Sta a Tessa decidere se continuare a crogiolarsi nel dolore o voltare pagina.Ma non è l'unica a soffrire per questa rottura. Cole, infatti, non se la passa meglio: il pensiero di aver perso la ragazza che amava e di averla ferita lo tormenta, non riesce a perdonarsi per quello che ha fatto, ed è disposto a tutto per riconquistarla. Tessa non si fida, e soprattutto non può permettersi di mettere in pausa la sua vita per lui. Non ora che è stata ammessa all'università dei suoi sogni. Ma si può davvero smettere di amare qualcuno da un giorno all'altro?