The Default Sweater

Erin Copler's favorite sweater has always served as protection against the world in general, and her love life in particular. When she travels to England one summer for her brother's wedding, Erin can't stifle the hope that she may encounter an adventure along the way. With attractive (and some not so attractive) British (and some only pretending) distractions on every side and the wedding speeding closer, Erin struggles with her own perceptions of love and the challenge of making her one Biggest Decision. And that might even require giving up her Default Sweater.....

            Some days, Erin loved the city. She loved its chaos, its hubbub, the mad zip of cars and the clatter of voices, the shiny buildings, the smell of cold stone and hot smoke.

            Some days, she wanted to kiss the world right on the lips for the most ridiculous reasons: a pair of jeans that fit her just right, a chocolate ice cream, a baby smiling at her from a passing stroller.

            Some days, though, the world primly refused to kiss her back.

            Sure, there were a few minor frustrations at work, but they were nothing she couldn't handle.

            There were the days she hit every stoplight, tore fingernails, lost favorite articles of clothing, caught colds, spilled coffee, broke shoelaces, and ran out of gas—but she could handle those, too.

            There were very rarely any boyfriends, but there were PTA meetings with awkwardly single fathers, and every now and then a smile from a stranger in the apartment mail room.

            For those days, Erin had the Sweater.