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

By the time I drop her off with my mother and make it to work, it’s eight
o’clock sharp. I’m the first one at the flower shop, so I distract myself with
as much as I can until Serena and Lucy show up. Lucy can tell something is
wrong with me, she even asks me if I’m okay at one point, but I reassure
her that I’m fine.
I pretend I am fine, but I’m watching the front door every chance I get,
expecting Ryle to angrily burst through it. I wait for another mean text from
him. I wait for the phone to ring.
Hours go by and there’s nothing. Not even an apology.
I don’t tell Atlas, I don’t tell Allysa, I don’t say anything to anyone
throughout the day about what he’s done. It’s embarrassing. It’s insulting to
Atlas; it’s insulting to me. I have no idea what to do about it, but I know
that this isn’t something I’m willing to tolerate. I refuse to go the next
seventeen years of my daughter’s life being abused in any way, even
through text messages.
Serena has gone for the day, and it’s just Lucy and me when the
inevitable finally happens. It’s after five, and we’re just getting ready to
close up shop so I can pick up Emerson from my mother’s when Ryle walks
through the front door.
My anxiety shoots through me like an explosion of lava.
Lucy has never been Ryle’s biggest fan, so she groans under her breath
when she sees him and says, “I’ll be in the back if you need me.”
“Lucy, wait,” I whisper. I look down at my phone like I’m busy with
something so Ryle can’t see my lips moving. “Stay.” I glance at her so she
can see the concern in my eyes. She just nods and finds something to make
herself look busy.
My heart is hammering against my chest when Ryle approaches. I don’t
even try to hide behind a fake expression when I look him in the eye.
He holds my stare for a few seconds and then side-eyes Lucy. He nudges
his head toward my office. “Can we talk?”
“I was just leaving.” My words come out quick and firm. “I have to pick
up our daughter.”
I can see Ryle’s left hand grip the edge of the counter. He squeezes it,
and the muscles in his arm flex. “Please. It won’t take long.”
I look at Lucy. “Wait for me to lock up?” She gives me a reassuring nod,
so I turn on my heels and walk to my office. I can hear him right behind me.
I fold my arms over my chest and suck in a breath before I can face him.