Page 110 of Doughn't Let Me Go

“What?” she hisses to Drew. “I’m married, not blind. And don’t tell me you don’t think Porter is smokin’ hot.”

“I mean, he’s not bad to look at. But honestly, what makes him so attractive is the way he loves his daughter.” Drew sighs. “Nowthat’swhat I call hot.”

She’s looking over at the guys, who are now a little farther down the beach. Porter’s in the water with Kyrie now, the two basically taking turns falling on the boogie board.

“I agree,” I murmur.

The girls giggle.

“Anyway, we started talking and the sparks were obviously there between us. So, on a whim, I went home with him. The next morning was as awkward as all one-night stands are and we went our separate ways.”

“Until…” Wren presses. “Please tell me you’re not going to stop there. I’ve been wanting details on the next day for weeks now. Foster hasn’t divulged because he’s a selfish…what did you call him?Asshole.” She laughs.

“I was referring to Porter, but if the shoe fits,” I tease. “I went back to Slice the next morning for the interview. I—”

“Hold up,” Drew interrupts. “Your interview was at Slice?” She shakes her head. “That’s…odd.”

“It’s a thing Porter does, I guess. He has the interviewee choose a place that makes them comfortable. That way they’re less likely to be all nervous and bumble their way through the process.”

“Oh. Well, shit. That’s actually kind of brilliant,” Drew says. “Continue.”

“I chose Slice because I’ve been there many times and because if the interview went south, I could at least drown my sorrows in cheap carbs.”

“Good plan,” Wren comments.

“Imagine my surprise when Porter was sitting there too. I didn’t think anything of it at first. It’s a small town, so we were bound to run into each other again, though I was surprised it happened so soon. We talked a bit and then he said he was meeting someone, and I took that as my cue to go meet what would hopefully be my new boss by the door.That’swhen we discovered who the other was.”

“I’m sorry, but your name isn’t very common. Did he not put two and two together when he met a Doris the night before and was meeting a Doris for an interview?”

“Well,Dorishere,” Wren cuts in, “doesn’t actually like going by Doris after all.”

Drew’s surprised eyes find mine. “You don’t? I’ve known you for a while now and I’m just now finding this out?”

I shrug. “I’m sorry. You’re kind of…”

“A bulldozer?” Wren suggests.

I nod and Drew tries to look affronted, but it’s no use. She is very much a bulldozer, and it’s useless trying to deny it.

It’s okay, though. Her headstrong attitude is what got her where she is, and based on her beautiful ginger baby and the fiancé who dotes all over her, I’d say she’s doing just fine.

“I go by Dory,” I tell her. “To my friends.”

“Did you not think we were friends?”

Now she looks upset, and I grimace.

“Sorry. It’s not that. It’s just…I don’t really do relationships—of any kind. Things in my life don’t always work out, so I try to keep my distance.”

“Like, not even friendship relationships?”

“No.” I shake my head. “In fact, the last best friend I had I talked into taking my virginity in high school. He felt so bad afterward that we didn’t speak again.”

They both frown, eyes filled with sadness, and I have to look away, not wanting their pity.

“What happened next? With Porter, obviously, not that train wreck of losing your v-card,” Wren asks, picking up on my discomfort.

I laugh lightly, remembering me running from the pizzeria.

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