It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover

Chapter Eighteen
Lily
It’s been five days since I’ve seen Atlas. I try not to stress over how busy we
are because I know it’ll get better once I’m comfortable enough to let him
spend time around Emmy. But the responsible thing to do is to let Emmy’s
father know when I start seeing someone else before I bring anyone around
her.
It’s just frustrating that the responsible thing to do is also a terrifying thing
to do. I plan to put it off for as long as possible. There’s no shame in being
patient.
The flower shop is understaffed this week with Lucy’s upcoming
wedding, and Atlas has been dealing with legal stuff regarding custody,
running two businesses, and taking care of a kid. On top of all that, the fever
my mother had last week turned into the full-fledged flu, so she hasn’t been
able to watch Emmy at all. I’ve brought her with me two out of the three days
I’ve worked this week.
It’s just been a week from hell. Too busy to even get a drive-by hug.
Ryle and Marshall took the girls to the zoo today. Emmy is more than
likely too young to enjoy it, so it should make for an interesting day for Ryle.
The custody exchange was fine this morning, even though we haven’t
spoken since our conversation on the roof last week about her middle name.
He was a little curt, but I prefer his curtness to the subtle passes he sometimes
still makes at me.
Allysa is working with me today since she doesn’t have Rylee. She just
returned with coffee now that we’re caught up on everything. We got all our
orders out with the delivery truck an hour ago, so this is the first time we’ve
actually had time to speak in private since my date with Atlas last week.
Allysa hands me my coffee and then taps the mouse on the computer to
check for new online orders.
“What are you wearing to Lucy’s wedding?” I ask her.