It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover

Chapter Six
Lily
“Have you decided what you’re doing for Emerson’s birthday?” Allysa asks.
Allysa and Marshall threw a first birthday party for their daughter, Rylee,
that was so big, it was worthy of a Sweet Sixteen. “I’m sure I’ll just let her
have a smash cake and give her a couple of presents. I don’t have room for a
big party.”
“We could do something at our place,” Allysa offers.
“Who would I invite? She’ll be one; she has no friends. She can’t even
talk.”
Allysa rolls her eyes. “We don’t throw kids’ parties for our babies. We
throw them to impress our friends.”
“You’re my only friend, and I don’t need to impress you.” I hand Allysa
an order from the printer. “Are we doing dinner tonight?”
We get together for dinner at least twice a week at their place. Ryle
occasionally pops by, but I purposefully plan my visits on nights he’s on call.
I don’t know if Allysa has ever noticed. If she has, she probably doesn’t
blame me. She says it’s painful watching Ryle when I’m around because she
also suspects he still has hope for us. She prefers to spend time with him
when I’m not present.
“Marshall’s parents are coming into town today, remember?”
“Oh yeah. Good luck with that.” Allysa likes Marshall’s parents, but I
don’t think anyone truly looks forward to hosting their in-laws for an entire
week.
The front door chimes, and Allysa and I both look up at the same time. I
doubt her world starts to spin like mine does, though.
Atlas is walking toward us.
“Is that…”
“Oh, God,” I mutter under my breath.
“Yes, he is a god,” Allysa whispers.