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It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover

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Chapter Twenty-Seven

Atlas

It’s only been half an hour since I checked my phone, so I’m alarmed when I

see several missed calls and three texts from Lily.

Please call me.

I’m okay but Ryle is angry.

Did he show up there? Atlas, please call me.

Shit.

“Darin, can you take over?”

Darin moves to finish plating for me, and I immediately walk to my office

and call her. Her phone goes straight to voice mail. I try her again. Nothing.

I’m preparing to head out back to my car when my phone finally rings. I

answer immediately with, “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” she says.

I stop rushing toward the door and lean my shoulder into a wall. I release a

breath, my heart rate plummeting back to normal.

It sounds like she’s driving. “I’m going to pick up Emmy. I just wanted to

warn you that he’s angry. I was worried he might show up there.”

“Thanks for the warning. You sure you’re okay?”

“Yes. Call me when you get home. I don’t care how late it is.”

Ryle bursts through the kitchen doors in the middle of her sentence. He

makes enough of a ruckus that everyone notices and pauses what they’re

doing. Derek, my head waiter, is right behind Ryle.

“I said I would get him,” Derek is saying to Ryle. Derek looks at me and

throws up his hands to let me know he tried to prevent the intrusion.

“I’ll call you on my way home,” I say. I fail to mention Ryle just showed

up. I don’t want her to be concerned. I end the call right as Ryle’s eyes land

on me.

I don’t think he’s here to congratulate me.

“Who is that?” Darin asks.

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