Page 26 of Doughn't Let Me Go

I flick my eyes his way, then dart them back to the water glass clasped between my hands.

“Let me go grab that slice for you.”

He pushes away from the counter like he didn’t just utter the words I didn’t even know I needed to hear.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath.

I need to get my shit together. I don’t have time to dwell. I need to keep moving and keep pushing forward.

It’s been working the last few years, so why stop now?

“Here you go, son.”

He slides the slice of pizza in front of me and I glance down, grinning.

Biscuits and gravy, my favorite.

“Thanks,” I murmur to his retreating back as he leaves me here to drown myself in carbs.

I’m not usually one to eat such unhealthy meals back-to-back. Not only do I bust my ass at work, I bust it in the gym too. It’s where I get all my aggression out. But, you can’t outrun calories—well, you can, but nobody wants to do that amount of cardio—so I always do my best to keep my nutrition on the up-and-up as well. I feel it helps keep my business mind sharp too.

Further proof that last night fucked me up.

I’m devouring carbs and grease and all kinds of gooey goodness right before an interview.

For a mere second, I contemplate pushing the pizza away so I can keep a clear head.

But it’s pizza.

I’d never push that away.

“Porter?”

I’m hearing things. Ihaveto be hearing things…right?

Slice in hand, I turn toward the intrusion, taking a lazy bite.

Great. Now I’m seeing things too.

The vision of the angel I was forced to leave this morning is conjured before me, looking as gorgeous as ever.

Nobody can possibly look that good on three hours of sleep.

This is a dream. It must be a dream. I must have fallen asleep on my pizza.

“Porter?”

She says my name again, and it soundssoreal.

I want it to be real.

“Hey there, what can I get for you today?”

The waiter behind the counter speaks this time, and I realize he’s talking to her.

Shit. Sheisreal.

I drag my eyes to her face. Her dark brows are slashed together over her wide, blue eyes. She looks confused, and maybe a little annoyed.

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