Page 136 of Doughn't Let Me Go

Mel throws us a grin. “Have a good night, Doris.”

When Porter doesn’t say anything, Mel swats at him.

“Oh, right.” He clears his throat. “Good night…Doris.”

My eyes connect with his for the first time tonight, and I see so much in the short time we hold each other’s gaze.

Irritation. Trepidation. Agony. An apology.

Love.

I don’t breathe again until I hear the front door close.

Slice Nineteen

Porter

“Porter, I have something very serious and important to ask you.”

I grin up at Mel, despite her solemn tone. “Are you finally proposing? Because I gotta tell you, I think you might be too late, sweetheart.”

She frowns at me. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”

I sigh, leaning back in my chair, chucking my pen onto the desk. I rub at my temples, trying to massage away the headache I feel forming because I know where this conversation is headed.

These last few days have been grueling. Between getting things ready with my lawyers and staying up way too late sitting outside Dory’s door, I’m fucking beat.

But tomorrow, when everything is official, this will all be worth it.

I hope.

“Just say what you’re going to say, Mel. We’ve never been ones to beat around the bush, and I certainly don’t want to start that now, all things considered.”

“Fine.” She takes a seat on the leather couch, pulling her legs up and crossing her arms over her chest. “I’m not even going to ask if you’ve been sleeping with your nanny, because it’s very obvious to anyone who stands in the same room as you two.”

When I don’t say anything, she smirks, enjoying knowing she’s right.

“What I want to know is: are you making me your partner because of her? To stay here with Doris?”

“Dory,” I say, though I don’t know why I do.

It doesn’t matter, really.

Mel’s smirk turns into a full-fledged smile. “Right. Dory. Is she why you’re staying?”

I squeeze the bridge of my nose. “I… Fuck, Mel. It’s complicated.”

“Is it?”

“Yes.” It comes out an annoyed sigh. “There’s…stuff between us.”

“Sex—right, I got that.”

“Yep.” I laugh contemptuously. “Just sex.”

Why the fuck did I agree to such a stupid idea? I’m smarter than that.

I know why though.

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