All Chapters of It Ends With Us: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

“Doesn’t matter,” Atlas said. “It’s yours.”She swallowed, his words hitting deeper than they should have.Maybe this was the point. Not to be good at something. Not to impress anyone. Just to do something for herself.She looked over at Atlas, who had somehow managed to get more paint on himself than the canvas. She laughed, shaking her head. “What?” he asked.“You’re a mess.”Atlas grinned. “But I’m having fun.”Lily watched him for a moment before turning back to her own canvas, a small smile tugging at her lips. Maybe she was, too.Lily leaned against the café counter, absently tracing the rim of her coffee mug. The place was quiet, the late afternoon lull giving her a rare moment of stillness. But her mind wasn’t quiet. It hadn’t been since last night. Since she held Atlas’s hand.Since she made a choice, even if she wasn’t sure what it meant yet.The door swung open, and Ally strolled in, pulling off her apron and tossing it onto the nearest chair. “Alright, spill.” Lily blinked

Lily sat at the small wooden table in the bookstore café, her fingers wrapped around a warm cup of coffee. She had been sitting there for almost an hour, flipping through the same page of a book she wasn’t really reading.Her mind was elsewhere. Somewhere between her past and whatever came next.Across from her, Atlas was leaning back in his chair, quietly watching her. He hadn’t said much since they sat down, but he didn’t need to. He always seemed to know when she needed space to think.“You’re overthinking again,” Atlas finally said, breaking the silence. Lily sighed, closing the book and setting it aside. “It’s kind of my thing.”Atlas smirked. “I’ve noticed.”She took a sip of her coffee, the warmth grounding her for a moment. “I just feel like I’m in this weird in-between space. Like I should be moving forward, but I don’t know in which direction.”Atlas tilted his head. “Who says you have to pick a direction right now?” Lily let out a short laugh. “You really believe that, don’

The bell above the café door jingled softly.Lily didn’t have to look up to know who it was. She felt like a current shifting in the room, like gravity tilting toward him.Atlas.He walked in slowly, a to-go coffee in his hand, as if he hadn’t been gone for years, as if he hadn’t shattered her once and walked away.Lily stayed behind the counter, pretending to rearrange muffins. “You’re back again.”“Good morning to you too,” Atlas said, a hesitant smile brushing his lips. “I figured I owed you a real coffee. Not that watered-down hospital brew.”Her eyes narrowed. “So this is guilt coffee?”“No,” he said, placing it on the counter. “This is an apology coffee. Different bean entirely.”Despite herself, a laugh almost escaped her lips. But she held it back. “You don’t get to joke your way back into my life.”“I’m not trying to.” He leaned on the counter, voice low. “I’m just…trying to show up.”Lily’s stomach twisted. She didn’t know what that meant. What he wanted. Why now?Before she

Lily walked in early. The scent of cinnamon and coffee grounds hit her like comfort and punishment all at once. She tied her apron and tried to steady her hands.Mia was already there, unusually quiet.“You okay?” Lily asked.“No,” Mia replied bluntly. “Mom’s being discharged today. You’d know that if you checked your messages.”Guilt again.Lily moved toward the coffee machine, but Mia stopped her.“And Ryle? He came by this morning. Left his keys.”Lily blinked. “He what?”Mia crossed her arms. “He looked like he hadn’t slept all night. Said you’d understand.”Lily’s throat tightened.She turned to the counter and froze.Atlas stood just inside the doorway.And he didn’t look victorious.He looked wrecked.“I didn’t mean to ruin your life,” he said.Lily swallowed hard. “You didn’t ruin it. I did.”He walked closer. “Tell me what to do, and I’ll do it. I’ll stay. I’ll leave. Just… don’t look at me like I’m the mistake.”“You’re not the mistake,” she said quietly. “You’re the memory

The soft glow of morning did nothing to ease the storm building inside Lily Harper.Sleep had barely touched her. She stood in the café, arms crossed, eyes red. The “Open” sign hasn’t been flipped yet.Atlas stood by the window, silent, waiting for her to say something after last night’s conversation.“I don’t need a savior,” Lily said, her voice hoarse. “I need a plan.”Atlas nodded. “Then let’s build one. Together.”Lily exhaled, her pride a heavy weight on her chest.“I’ll talk to a lawyer today. If you can dig anything up about Montrose or the landlord’s deal, do it. Quietly.”He nodded again, but she could see it in his eyes the quiet hope, the way he wanted to be part of her life again, not just her fight.But Lily wasn’t ready for that.Not yet.Lily sat across from Mia, scrolling through law firm websites.“They all want retainers I can’t afford,” Lily muttered.“You’re not alone, Lil. And you have people who care,” Mia said gently. “Even if you don’t always let them.”“I’ve a