It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover

months ago, since it happens every other week. Emmy probably got the fever
from Rylee to begin with.
I knock on Allysa’s door, and when she opens it, she’s immediately
grabbing for Emerson. “Come here,” she says. She pulls Emerson to her and
squeezes her. “She smells so good. Rylee doesn’t smell like a baby anymore.
Makes me sad.” She pushes the door open to invite me in, and when I walk
inside holding the diaper bag, Allysa finally registers my outfit. “Hold up,”
she says. She points a finger up and down my body. “What’s this? Why am I
babysitting?”
I really don’t want to tell her where I’m going, but it’s Allysa. She reads
me better than anyone. She can see the hesitation on my face and takes it for
exactly what it is. “Is this a date outfit?” She whispers it and then closes the
front door. “Is it the Greek god?”
“Atlas. Yes. Please don’t tell your brother.”
Right when I say that, I notice Marshall standing close by in the living
room. He immediately covers his ears and says, “I heard nothing. I see
nothing. Lalalalalala.” He walks through the foyer and disappears into the
kitchen.
Allysa brushes his presence off with a wave. “He’s so good at being
neutral; don’t worry about him.” She motions for me to follow her into the
living room. Rylee is in a playpen, so Allysa walks Emmy over to her.
“Rylee, look who’s here!”
Rylee smiles when she sees Emmy. The girls are starting to show
excitement in each other’s presence. I love that they’re not too far apart in
age. The six-month gap feels smaller and smaller the older Emmy gets.
“Where is he taking you?”
I smooth my hands down my outfit, and then flick off a piece of lint. “To
dinner, but I’ve never been to this place. I hope I’m not overdressed.”
“Is this your first date with him? You seem nervous.”
“It is our first date, and I am nervous. But it’s a different kind of nervous.
A good nervous. I know him so well already, so I don’t feel like I’m about to
have to spend an evening with a stranger.”
Allysa studies me for a moment with gentle eyes. “You seem excited. I’ve
missed this side of you.”
“Yeah. Me too.” I bend to give both Emmy and Rylee kisses. “I won’t be
out too late. I have to get back to the shop and close up for Lucy, so he’s