It Ends with Us

A few days later, Lily’s ankle has healed and she has continued to organize her flower shop. Ryle pays her a surprise visit and she notices that he looks tired and seems to have come from the hospital. He tells her he has tracked down her apartment and confesses that he has been unable to stop thinking about her. Because this is interfering with his ability to concentrate on his work, he asks her to sleep with him. Lily laughs at the request, telling him she has been working to set up her shop and is tired. She agrees when he insists, on the condition he allow her to shower. When she emerges however, he has fallen asleep. Disappointed, Lily falls asleep next to him. Ryle apologizes the next day as he leaves and promises that he won’t approach her again. She reminds herself that she doesn’t want a fling, that she is a “bold and brave businesswoman with zero fucks to give for men in scrubs” (75), and that her shop is enough to occupy her thoughts.

Fifty-three days later, Lily opens her shop. During this time, she has been busy working and has not seen Ryle. Her first customer, however, happens to be Ryle.