It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover

I close the door and go find my phone. I’ve been rushing to get Emmy
dressed and out the door, so I haven’t looked at my phone since I hung up
with my mother. I have a missed call from Atlas from twenty minutes ago.
My stomach flips with anticipation. I hope he’s off today. I use my phone
camera to check my appearance, and then I call him back over video chat.
I hated when he called me over video chat the first time, but now it feels
like the natural thing to do. I always want to see his face. I like seeing what
he’s wearing and where he’s at and the faces he makes when he says the
things he says.
I’m already smiling when I hear the sound that indicates he’s answered the
call. He lifts the phone, and when I finally make out what I’m looking at, I
can see he’s standing in an unfamiliar kitchen. It’s white and bright and
different from the kitchen I remember when I visited his house almost two
years ago.
“Morning,” he says. He’s smiling, but he looks tired, like he either just
woke up or is about to fall asleep.
“Hey.”
“Sleep well?” he asks.
“I did. Finally.” I squint my eyes trying to see past him. “Did you remodel
your kitchen?”
Atlas glances over his shoulder, and then looks back at me. “I moved.”
“What? When?”
“Earlier this year. Sold my house and got a place closer to the restaurant.”
“Oh. That’s nice.” Closer to the restaurant means closer to me. I wonder
how far apart we live now. “Are you cooking?”
Atlas aims his phone at his countertop. There’s a pan of eggs, a pile of
bacon, pancakes, and… two plates. Two glasses of juice. My heart drops.
“That’s a lot of food,” I say, attempting to hide the immense jealousy running
through me.
“I’m not alone,” he says, panning the screen back to his face.
My disappointment must be clearly written all over me, because he
immediately shakes his head.
“No, Lily. That’s not…” He laughs and seems flustered. His reaction is
adorable but not entirely reassuring yet. He holds the phone up a little higher
until I can see a person standing behind him. I’m not sure who’s with him,
but it isn’t another woman.
It’s a kid.