Page 143 of Doughn't Let Me Go

“That was never a question.”

“And you arenotgoing to pay for that either.”

“We’ll have to agree to disagree on that stipulation, but continue.”

“That’s nothow stipulations work.”

He raises a brow. “Continue.”

I roll my eyes. “I want to take things slow. I don’t want to move in with you right away.”

“But you’ve been living with me all summer.”

“As your employee. That was different.”

“I don’t warm my employee’s beds at night, Dory.”

“That’s not what I’ve heard.”

He groans. “Fine. Next.”

“That’s…all I have.”

“That’s it? Nothing else.”

“I mean, I’m sure I’ll come up with more later…”

I grin, and his dancing eyes make my heart race.

“I love you,” I blurt.

“Thank god.” He smiles. “Because this whole thing would be really awkward if you didn’t. I would be more embarrassed than that time I got naked in front of half my company and had to invoke the Tequila Clause. It—”

“Porter?” I interrupt.

“Yeah, Dory?”

“Stop talking and kiss me before I change my mind.”

And he does.

A Slice of the Future

Porter

“Let’s move it! Hustle, hustle, hustle!” Lifting the whistle that’s hanging around my neck to my lips, I blow it twice. “Pick it up, ladies! My grandma moves faster than this!”

“Your grandmother is dead.”

“Exactly my point.”

My girlfriend rolls her eyes at me, huffing. “You need to chill out. It’s just youth soccer.”

“I know,” I say, wrapping my arm around her and pulling her close. “But I like to win.”

“This is supposed to be your way of unwinding…”

“I’m the most relaxed I’ve ever been—except for when you’re straddling my face in bed.”

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