It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover (z-lib.org).epub

I laugh, but Ryle turns to me with a serious look on his face. “I didn’t
speak to him for an entire month, I was so mad. I eventually got over it.
We were eighteen, she was seventeen. Wasn’t much I could do in the way
of keeping them apart.”
“Wow,” I say. “I sometimes forget how close in age you two are.”
Allysa smiles and says, “Three kids in three years. I feel so sorry for my
parents.”
The table grows quiet. I see an apologetic look pass from Allysa to Ryle.
“Three?” I ask. “You have another sibling?”
Ryle straightens up and takes a sip of his beer. He sets it back down on
the table and says, “We had an older brother. He passed away when we
were kids.”
Such a great night, ruined by a simple question. Luckily, Marshall redirects
the conversation like a pro.
I spend the rest of the evening listening to stories about them growing
up. I’m not sure I’ve ever laughed as hard as I have tonight.
When the game is over, we all walk back to the shop to retrieve our cars.
Ryle said he caught an Uber over earlier, so he’ll just ride with me. Before
Allysa and Marshall leave, I tell her to hold on. I run inside the store and
grab the steampunk flowers and run them back to their car. Her face
lights up when I hand them to her.
“I’m happy you’re pregnant but that’s not why I’m giving you these
flowers. I just want you to have them. Because you’re my best friend.”
Allysa squeezes me and whispers in my ear. “I hope he marries you
someday. We’ll be even better sisters.”
She climbs inside the car and they leave, and I just stand there watching
them because I don’t know that I’ve ever had a friend like her in my whole
life. Maybe it’s the wine. I don’t know, but I love today. Everything about
it. I especially love how Ryle looks, leaning against my car, watching me.
“You’re really beautiful when you’re happy.”
Ugh! This day! Perfect!
• • •
We’re making our way up the stairs to my apartment when Ryle grabs my
waist and pushes me against the wall. He just starts kissing me, right there
in the stairwell.