15-05-2021-052358It-Ends-with-Us

been chosen when a reporter for the paper called me last week and asked me a series of questions. The title reads “Best new busi ...

delivered—but there were no sounds at all. Not even the cries of a newborn. My hands go up to my mouth and seeing the look on Ma ...

Ryle laughs. “She’s kicked my ass a time or two growing up. I wouldn’t be surprised.” “No cussing around Rylee,” Marshall says. ...

Chapter Twenty-Three It’s three hours later and after ten o’clock when I make it back home. I stayed with Allysa for another hou ...

he’s holding the Boston magnet. I brought it from the old apartment and stuck it on this fridge when we moved in. He places it b ...

tug harder and I wince. “Ryle,” I whisper, keeping my voice calm, even though I’m beginning to shake. “That hurts.” His fingers ...

I look down, even more confused this time. But whatever will get us past this and into the bed... “The business with the highest ...

And the magnet. How would he know that came from Atlas just by reading that article? He’s overreacting. I can hear him following ...

“Ryle,” I beg. “I can explain.” Tears streak down my temples and into my hair. “You’re angry. Please don’t hurt me, please. Walk ...

“Lily, I love you, I’m so sorry.” His words are full of panic. He’s kissing me, his lips gentle against my cheek and mouth. He k ...

I slide to the floor near the door, growing dizzy. My fingers are shaking so hard, it takes three tries to get the password righ ...

of the phone. “I’ll text you,” I whisper, too scared to keep speaking. I don’t want Ryle to wake up. I hang up the phone and som ...

I know I need stitches. I know he’s taking me to the hospital. But I have no idea why the next words out of my mouth are, “Don’t ...

Chapter Twenty-Four Atlas is standing on the other side of the room. He hasn’t taken his eyes off me the entire time the nurse h ...

I shake my head again. “Atlas, I swear.. .” I squeeze my eyes shut and lower my head. “I’m not covering for him this time,” I wh ...

He nods and helps me back into my shoes. He pulls off his jacket and wraps it around me, then we walk out of the hospital withou ...

“I’ll show you your room,” he says. “There’s a shower if you need it.” I do. I want to wash the taste of scotch out of my mouth. ...

Chapter Twenty-Five I smell toast. I stretch out on my bed and smile, because Ryle knows toast is my favorite. My eyes flick ope ...

immediately begin to shake and I drop the paper back on the table. I close my eyes and take a slow sip of the orange juice. A fe ...

really well, then opened Bib’s a year and a half ago. “It does okay,” he says with modesty. I glance around his kitchen and then ...