It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover

“We’re not going.”
“What?”
“We can’t. It’s my parents’ fortieth wedding anniversary. Ryle and I are
doing that surprise dinner.”
She told me about that, but I had no idea it was the same day as Lucy’s
wedding.
“It’s the only evening Ryle could get away,” she says.
I deflate. I hate Ryle’s schedule. I know it’ll get better over time, when
he’s no longer one of the newest surgeons on staff, but even when his hours
aren’t making custody difficult, he’s making my best friend choose between a
wedding and her parents.
I know it’s not Ryle’s fault, but I like silently blaming stuff on him that he
has no control over. It feels good.
“Does Lucy know you aren’t going?”
Allysa nods. “She’s fine with it. Two less mouths to feed.” She takes a sip
of her coffee. “Are you taking Atlas?”
“I didn’t invite him. I thought you and Marshall were going, and I didn’t
want to ask you and Marshall to lie for me again.” I felt bad that I asked
Allysa to watch Emmy last week for my date because I knew she’d have to
lie to Ryle if it came up. And she did end up having to lie to him.
“When are you planning to tell Ryle you’re back on the dating scene?”
I groan. “Do I have to?”
“He’ll find out eventually.”
“I wish I could just pretend I was dating some guy named Greg. I don’t
know that he’d be as threatened by a Greg. Maybe I don’t have to be specific
about who I’m dating, and he won’t be as angry. I’ll ease him into the
knowledge of it being Atlas after a decade or two.”
Allysa laughs, but then she looks at me curiously. “Why does Ryle hate
Atlas so much, anyway?”
“He didn’t like that I kept mementos from back when Atlas and I dated.”
Allysa is staring at me. Waiting. “What else?”
I shake my head. There’s nothing else. “What do you mean?”
“Did you cheat on Ryle with Atlas?”
“What? No. God, no. I never would have done that to Ryle.” I’m a little
offended by her question, but then again I’m not. Ryle’s reaction would
naturally make anyone question what led to that kind of reaction.