It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover

Darin hands me a wet rag. “You’re bleeding.” He points to the left side of
my mouth, so I hold the rag there. “Was that her ex?”
“Yeah.”
“Everything okay now?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. He might get mad and come back. Hell, this could
go on for years.” I look at Darin and smile. “But she’s worth it.”
Three hours later, I’m knocking softly on Lily’s apartment door. I texted her
to let her know I was coming. I thought she might need another drive-by hug.
When she opens her door, it’s clear that’s exactly what she needs. And
what I need. As soon as we’re inside her living room, she slips her arms
around my waist and I fold myself around her. We remain embraced for a
couple of minutes.
When she lifts her face, her eyebrows draw apart when she sees the small
cut on my lip. “He’s such an immature asshole. Did you put ice on it?”
“I’ll be fine. It didn’t even swell.”
Lily lifts up onto her toes and kisses my cut. “Tell me what happened.”
We sit on the couch and I try to recall everything that was said, but I’m
sure I leave a few things out. When I’m finished speaking, she’s leaning
against the back of the couch with a leg draped over mine, concentrating.
She’s threading her fingers in and out of my hair.
She’s quiet for a long time. Then she just looks at me with a sweetness
that melts over me. “I’m convinced you’re the only man on the planet who
could get punched and then offer the aggressor advice.” Before I can respond,
she’s sliding onto my lap, bringing her face close to mine. “Don’t worry, I
find it so much more appealing than if you would have fought him back.”
I slide my hands up her back, surprised she’s in such a good mood. I don’t
know why I thought this conversation would be a weight on her. But I guess
this is the best possible outcome. Ryle knows we’re a thing, I had a chance to
say my piece, and we all came out of it relatively unharmed.
“I can’t stay long, but I can probably stretch this hug out for another
fifteen minutes before Josh notices I’m late.”
She raises an eyebrow. “When you say ‘hug,’ do you mean…”
“I mean get naked—we’re down to fourteen minutes.” I push her onto her
back and kiss her, and we don’t stop for fourteen minutes. Then seventeen.