Booktree.ngIt-Starts-with-Us-Colleen-Hoover

“He’s not, really. Not to me.” I can feel the smile wanting to spread
across my face, so I let it. “He’s so easy to talk to. And he’s kind. He’s
Marshall kind, but not as outgoing. He’s more reserved. He works a lot, and
I have Emmy all the time, so it’s been hard to make time for anything
together. Plus, he just found out he has a little brother this week, so his life
is kind of chaotic right now. Texts and phone calls are our primary source of
communication, so that sucks.”
“Is that why you keep checking your phone?”
I can feel my cheeks warm when she says that. I hate that she’s noticed.
I’ve tried my best to be inconspicuous with this. I don’t want anyone to
know how often Atlas and I text, or how often I think about texting him, or
how often I think about him.
Maybe I’m scared to talk about it with Allysa because I don’t want to
allow myself to be happy about Atlas until I know Ryle isn’t going to be
furious over Atlas.
I receive a text right in the middle of that thought, and it takes everything
in me to fight my smile when I look at my phone and read it.
“Is that him?” Allysa asks.
I nod.
“What’s he saying?”
“He asked me if I want him to bring me lunch.”
“Yes,” Allysa says emphatically. “Tell him you’re starving, and so is your
friend.”
I laugh and then reply to Atlas with, Could you bring lunch for two
today? My coworker gets jealous when you bring me food.
He immediately replies with, Be there in an hour.
When Atlas finally shows up, both Allysa and I are busy with customers.
He’s carrying a brown paper bag. I motion for him to wait by the counter, so
he stands patiently while we finish up. Allysa is finished first, and for at
least five minutes, she and Atlas are having a conversation I can’t hear from
this side of the shop. I’m trying to give my attention to the customer in front
of me, but knowing Allysa is speaking freely to Atlas has me more than
nervous. I never know what’s going to come out of her mouth.
Atlas looks pleased, though. Whatever she’s telling him, he’s enjoying it.