Page 113 of Doughn't Let Me Go

We’re all sitting on the back patio enjoying a couple beers while the girls put the kids down for the night. We tried helping, but they insisted all we were doing was riling them up and out the door we went. We were just trying to play freeze tag, but whatever.

“For what it’s worth, we knew something was going on,” Winston says.

“You did? How?”

Sully laughs, shaking his head. “Oh, you clueless, clueless bastard.”

“What?” I growl, becoming annoyed.

He sits forward. “You do know you’ve been openly staring at her all day, right?” When I open my mouth to argue, he shakes his head. “Don’t even think about trying to spit out an excuse like ‘yeah because have you seen her banging body’ at me. She’s wearing a one-piece I’m pretty sure my grandma has,andshe had a coverup on most of the day.”

I blame my heating cheeks on the swig of beer I guzzle down.

I didn’t realize I was openly staring at her. Don’t get me wrong, I know I’ve been sneaking glances her way all day, but I thought they were just that—glances.

Apparently, I’m not as sly as I thought.

If Sully and Winston noticed, did Dory notice too?

“Whatever,” I say. “It isn’t like that.”

“I know a horny look when I see one,” Sully insists.

“Only because those are the only kinds of looks you give,” Winston teases. “When are you going to finally get yourself a lady? Isn’t your right hand tired?”

In true Sully fashion, he stays tightlipped.

I haven’t spent a lot of time with him, but I’ve been around him enough times to know Sully would rather remain quiet than engage with personal questions. Which naturally makes a person havemorequestions.

When he does disclose information about his life, it’s always in the most subtle of ways, and you really only have a moment to catch it before he’s on to the next thing.

It’s equally annoying and intriguing.

I settle back into my chair, resting my head against the pillow attached to the backing, and close my eyes, letting the cool night air wash over me.

Between the stresses of work and hiding the sneaking around with Dory, a relaxing day on the beach with my friends is exactly what I needed.

It’s not that I’m not enjoying my time with Dory, because I am.

A little too much, if I’m being honest.

But I’m not about to let her in on that little secret. It’d send her running for the hills, and the last thing I want to do is lose her.

“Don’t think I’m letting you off the hook, Porter.”

Sighing, I peel my eyes open, staring down my best friend with a look that would send most cowering.

“You’re the fucking worst.”

“I know, but that doesn’t answer my question.”

“Workingwith Dory is great. Kyrie loves her.”

“And you?”

I nearly choke on my beer.

Foster laughs, reaching over to smack my back, putting a little more force into it than necessary. “I meant how do you feel about her, not do you love her.” He sits back with a victorious grin. “But it’s nice to know tossing out the L word gets that kind of reaction from you.”

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