Page 44 of Doughn't Let Me Go

I think most people in a situation as awkward as the one we’re in would handle this by lying to a prying kid just so they don’t have to face any additional awkward questions later.

Not Porter.

Never Porter.

Kyrie sits up, all the things she had piled on top of her flying everywhere, some even out of the cart.

I bend to pick up a pillow at the same time Porter does, and our heads collide like this is some cheesy romantic comedy.

“Ow!”

“Shit!”

Kyrie giggles but doesn’t repeat it or admonish him for saying a bad word.

I glance at him and he shrugs. “It’s just a word,” he explains. “Don’t make a big deal out of it and she won’t either.”

I nod. “I like that.”

He drifts closer, and his scent overwhelms me like it did before. “I’m sorry, Dory.”

“Not now, Porter.”

“Then when?” Closer still. “We can’t avoid this.”

“That’s what we planned to do anyway.”

I stand, and with reluctance, he pushes to his feet too.

“I’ll let you two get back to your shopping.”

“What are you here for?” Kyrie asks.

I hold up the pack of toilet paper, and suddenly I feel embarrassed.

Not because it’s toilet paper, because everyone uses it, but because it’s theoff-brandtoilet paper. The cheap stuff.

“That’s it?”

I nod. “Just this.”

“Then stay!” Kyrie begs. “Puh-lease. You can help us pick out more decorations.”

“Kyrie, I’m sure Dory has other plans.”

I get it. It’s awkward. He doesn’t want me here.

“Pro!” His daughter holds her little finger up. “I won’t have to walk around with this guy alone.”

Oh, god. She’s making a pros and cons list.

“Good pro. I mean heiswearing a tiara.”

“Hey! I make this tiara look damn good.”

We ignore Porter.

“Con: I’d be interrupting your daddy-daughter time.”

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