It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover

“Go back there in case he shows up,” I suggest.
“I can’t afford to stay there anymore. I’m in between jobs, so I’m staying
with a friend for a couple of days.”
I stand up and pull the money out of my pocket. I drop it on the table in
front of her. “The number you called me on the other day—is that your cell?”
She nods, sliding the money off the table and into her hand.
“I’ll call you if I find out anything. Go back to the hotel and try to get the
same room. He needs you to be there if he comes back.”
My mother nods, and for the first time, she looks somewhat ashamed. I
leave her to sit in that feeling without saying goodbye. I’m hoping she’s
feeling at least a fraction of what she made me feel for years. What she’s
likely making my little brother feel right now.
I can’t believe this. She went and made a whole human and didn’t think to
tell me?
I walk straight through the kitchen and out the back door. No one is in the
alley right now, so I take a moment to pull myself together. I’m not sure I’ve
ever been this stunned.
Her child is out there running the streets of Boston all alone and she waits
two goddamn weeks before doing anything about it? I don’t know why it
surprises me. This is who she is. It’s who she’s always been.
My phone begins to ring. I’m so on edge, I want to throw it at the
dumpster, but when I see it’s Lily attempting to FaceTime me, I steady
myself.
I slide my finger across the screen, prepared to tell her it isn’t a good time,
but when her face pops up, it feels like the perfect time. I’m relieved to hear
from her, even though it’s only been an hour since I last saw her. I’d give
anything to reach through the phone and hug her.
“Hey.” I try to keep my voice stable, but there’s a sharpness to it that cuts
through. She can tell because her expression grows concerned.
“Are you okay?”
I nod. “Things sort of went south after I went back to work. I’m fine,
though.”
She smiles, but it’s kind of sad. “Yeah, my night went south, too.”
I didn’t notice at first, but it looks like she’s been crying. Her eyes are
glassy and a little puffy. “Are you okay?”
She forces another smile. “I will be. I just wanted to say thank you for
tonight before I went to sleep.”