Page 99 of Doughn't Let Me Go

“We are.”

Her laugh is cut short by another moan when I drive into her.

“Gonna come,” she mutters.

“I’m almost there.”

“Harder,” she encourages. “Faster.”

I grip her hips tighter, probably too tight, and thrust into her, not holding back this time.

“Porter…” She sighs my name as I feel her fall apart around me.

Another thrust. Harder. Faster.

And I fall too.

* * *

Dread should not bethe first thing I feel after the night I’ve had, but I know what the morning sun that’s currently blinding me means.

I have to leave, because the last thing I need is my daughter to see me sneak out of her nanny’s room in the morning.

I peel my eyes open with reluctance and sweep them over the room for the first time since I barged my way inside.

Our clothes are thrown all over the place, pillows on the floor. Dory hasn’t decorated the space much, but there are a few things here and there, like an old, worn record player on the bookshelf, a stack of vinyl next to it. I don’t have to look at them to know what they are. I know just based on the band tees she wears. Other than the small jewelry box atop her dresser and a beat-up laptop that’s seen better days, the only other thing in here that screams Dory is the copy ofThe Outsiderssitting on her bedside table.

This room says so little and so many things about her all at once.

She’s a simple gal, with simple goals.

I think I like that most about her.

The sunlight begins to creep into the corners of the bedroom, and I know I need to be on my way soon.

Carefully, I lift my arm, trying to move out from under Dory’s grip.

“I don’t want you to go.”

I look down at her, but her eyes are still closed.

“I—”

“You have to. I know.”

She finally looks up at me, and I give her an apologetic smile.

“We knew this was just one night.”

Right. One night.

But what if it wasn’t? What if…

“Listen, Dory—”

She shakes her head, sitting up, letting the blanket fall around her in a pool of last night’s secrets.

“No, Porter. Whatever you’re going to say, don’t say it. We know it’s best if we don’t get involved.”

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