Page 54 of Doughn't Let Me Go

Nothing.

Then I saw the note.

Went for milk.

I knew she was gone. It was a joke we used to make, running out for milk and leaving the world behind.

Only she really did it.

I sigh, pulling myself from the past. “I wasn’t what she wanted.”

Dory stays quiet, and I don’t provide anything else.

We stay here, finishing our coffees in silence, avoiding all eye contact.

When it’s clear she’s not going to ask any more questions and I’m not going to just start spilling all my deepest darkest secrets, I set my empty mug in the sink and ask, “Breakfast?”

She starts to push up off the stool. “Sure. What do you want?”

“No.” It’s firm, and maybe a little harsh if the look of anger that crosses her face is any indication. “No,” I say softer. “I’m not asking you to make breakfast,I’moffering to.”

“You cook?”

“Sometimes.” I shrug. “Any requests?”

She shakes her head. “No. I’m not picky.”

“That’s a relief.”

I pull open the fridge and find there’s not much stashed in there in the way of breakfast food.

I close the door, turning back to Dory. “I lied. How about we do breakfast out?”

She laughs. “That barren, huh?”

“It’s not pretty.”

“I promise by tonight, you’ll have a fully stocked fridge.”

I wipe my hand across my forehead. “Phew. I might go broke eating out all the time.”

As soon as the words leave my mouth, I wince.

“Fuck. I’m sorry, Dor—” I let her name die on my lips. I can’t stand to call her Doris. It doesn’t fit her. “I didn’t mean to sound so privileged.”

She waves her hand. “It’s fine. I know you didn’t mean anything by it.”

I blow out a breath. “Thank you.” I glance at the clock on the microwave. “I better get dressed—I have a conference call at nine I can’t be late for.”

“Right.” She stands. “I should get Kyrie up. We can take separate cars to breakfast and I can stop by the grocery store on the way home.”

Home.

I like the way it sounds on her lips.

My eyes drift to said lips, the ones I never got the chance to taste. The ones I’m dying to taste. Why wouldn’t she let me kiss her?

“…wake up?”

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