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

Chapter Seven
Atlas
“When you’re working with flounder, always hold your knife like this.” I
demonstrate how to start with the dull end at the tail, but Theo looks away
as soon as I begin to scale the fish.
“Gross,” he mutters, covering his mouth. “I can’t.” Theo moves to the
other side of the counter, putting space between himself and the cooking
lesson.
“I’m only scaling it. I haven’t even cut it open yet.”
Theo makes a gagging sound. “I have no interest in working with food.
I’ll stick to being your therapist.” Theo pushes himself onto the counter.
“Speaking of, did you ever text Lily?”
“I did.”
“She text you back?”
“Sort of. It was a short text, so I decided to take her lunch today to see
where her head is at.”
“That was a bold move.”
“I’ve spent my life not making bold moves when it comes to her. I
wanted to make sure she knew where I stood this time.”
“Oh no,” Theo says. “What cheesy thing did you say to her about fish
and beaches and shores?”
I never should have told him what I said to Lily about finally reaching
the shore. I’m not going to hear the end of it. “Shut up. You’ve probably
never even spoken to a girl; you’re twelve.”
Theo laughs, but then I notice an awkwardness settle over him when he
thinks I’m not looking. He grows quiet, despite the ruckus going on around
us. There are at least five other people in the kitchen right now, but
everyone is so focused on their work, no one is paying attention to the
conversation I’m having with Theo.
“You like someone?” I ask him.