It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover

I immediately blush, and that makes Allysa curious. Atlas turns to her and
says, “She didn’t tell you she slept through our first date?”
I’m not even looking at Allysa, but I can feel her staring. “I was tired,” I
say, excusing the inexcusable. “It was an accident.”
“Oh, I absolutely need more of this story,” Allysa says.
“She fell asleep on our drive there. Slept in a parking lot for over an hour.
We never even made it into the restaurant.”
Allysa starts laughing, and I kind of want to crawl under the counter and
hide now.
“Who’s getting married?” Atlas asks me.
“My friend Lucy. She works here.”
“What time?”
“It’s at seven. Nighttime wedding if you can swing it.”
“I can.” Atlas does this thing with his eyes where he briefly looks like he
wishes we were alone. It’s sending tingles of warmth crawling down my
spine. “I need to get back. Enjoy your lunch.” He nods at Allysa. “It was nice
officially meeting you.”
“You too,” she says.
He gets halfway to the exit when he starts whistling. He walks away in a
cheerful mood, and it makes my heart swell to see him so happy. I have no
idea if his good mood has anything to do with me, but the teenage girl in me
who was worried about him all those years ago is extremely pleased to see
him doing so well in life.
“What’s wrong with him?”
When I glance at Allysa, she’s staring curiously at the door Atlas just
disappeared out of. “What do you mean?”
“Why isn’t he married? Why doesn’t he have a girlfriend?”
“Hopefully he’ll have a girlfriend soon.” I can’t say it without smiling.
“He’s probably bad in bed. Maybe that’s why he’s single.”
“He is definitely not bad in bed.”
Her jaw drops. “You said you haven’t even kissed him yet; how would
you know?”
“As adults,” I say. “You forget I have a history with him. He was my first,
and he was very, very good. And I’m sure he’s gotten even better.”
Allysa stares at me for a beat, then says, “I’m happy for you, Lily.” But
she’s frowning. “Marshall is going to like him, too. He’s so likable.” She says
that like it’s the worst possible outcome.