Page 77 of Doughn't Let Me Go

“Can we trade?”

I know she’s joking, but I do it anyway, swapping one of her slices of pepperoni for my own.

“Porter! I was kidding.”

“Just say ‘Thank you, Porter’ and enjoy.”

“Thank you, Porter—and enjoy.” She grins around the pizza she’s already stuffing in her mouth.

“Smartass.”

“Well fucking well, what the shit do we have here?”

I slide my eyes to the end of the table.

“Drew!”

Dory says her name like she’s been caught doing something wrong.

Which is really dumb because we’re grown adults. We’re allowed to have dinner together and not have it end with sex.

I wish.

I knock those thoughts out of my head.

Stay on your side of the line,I remind myself.

“Winston.” I nod at him. “I’d shake your hand but…” I hold mine up, wiggling my greasy fingers his way. I grin at baby Riker. “Hey there, buddy.”

He pushes his face into his mom’s neck, hiding from me.

“Always the gentleman,” Winston mocks, referring to when I flew out here for my birthday, and even though I was drunk off my ass, I still insisted on holding the door for everyone and paying.

“Foster and Wren said you’re nannying for Porter now,” Drew says to Dory. “I’m so happy for you. You deserve the steady job and break.”

Dory beams at her. “Thank you for throwing my hat into the ring last year. I think that’s a huge part of why I was able to even get the interview.”

She doesn’t mention she never interviewed.

Then we’d have to explain how we met each other.

“It’s no problem. Although Riker does miss his Doris, I’ll allow it.” Drew winks and then shifts her gaze my way. “Besides, I’m sure Porter is paying you way more than I ever could.”

Doris pinches her fingers together. “Just a smidge.”

“What are you two up to tonight? Where’s Kyrie?”

“With Foster and Wren,” I tell Winston. “She wanted to recreate their tea party from a couple weekends ago and I wasn’t going to argue about a night off.”

Winston looks to Drew. “Shit, babe, maybe we can drop Riker off too. I have a new position I’d like to try out and I’d rather not get interrupted by the ginger goblin again.”

“Gingerangel,” Drew corrects him, kissing Riker’s head. “But that doesn’t sound like a bad idea to me.”

I laugh because I can see the plan brewing between them now. Everyone is about to have a night off except Foster and Wren, and Wren’s damn heart is so big, she’d take Riker in a heartbeat.

We should all be ashamed of ourselves, but…nah.

“So, are you guys just out enjoying a night off, then?” Drew says, still hung up on figuring out what we’re doing together.

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