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

Ten.
Five.
One.
Neither of us takes that final step.
I’m out of breath, panting and nervous. “I forgot to tell you Emerson’s
middle name.” I put my hands on my hips and exhale. “It’s Dory.”
He doesn’t immediately react, but then his eyes crinkle a little in the
corners. His mouth twitches like he’s forcing back a smile. “What a perfect
name for her.”
I nod, and smile, and then stop.
I’m not sure what to do now. I just needed him to know that, but now
that I’ve told him, I didn’t really think of what I’d do or say next.
I nod again, and then glance around me, throwing a thumb over my
shoulder. “Well . . . I guess I’ll . . .”
Atlas steps forward, grabs me, and pulls me hard against his chest. I
immediately close my eyes when he wraps his arms around me. His hand
goes up to the back of my head and he holds me still against him as we
stand, surrounded by busy streets, blasts of horns, people brushing us as
they pass in a hurry. He presses a gentle kiss into my hair, and all of that
fades away.
“Lily,” he says quietly. “I feel like my life is good enough for you now. So
whenever you’re ready . . .”
I clench his jacket in my hands and keep my face pressed tight against
his chest. I suddenly feel like I’m fifteen again. My neck and cheeks flush
from his words.
But I’m not fifteen.
I’m an adult with responsibilities and a child. I can’t just allow my
teenage feelings to take over. Not without a little reassurance, at least.
I pull back and look up at him. “Do you donate to charity?”
Atlas laughs with confusion. “Several. Why?”
“Do you want kids someday?”
He nods. “Of course I do.”
“Do you think you’ll ever want to leave Boston?”
He shakes his head. “No. Never. Everything is better here, remember?”
His answers give me the reassurance I need. I smile up at him. “Okay.
I’m ready.”