Page 43 of Doughn't Let Me Go

“Thank you. You’re named after a fish.”

“Or is the fish named after me?”

Kyrie giggles. “Wouldn’t that be so cool? To have a fish named after you?” Her eyes light up. “Dad, can I have a fish?”

“We’ll have to make a list.”

“A list?” I ask.

“Pros and cons,” Kyrie answers on a sigh. “We always have to make lists. It’s how we compromise.”

“I think that’s a wonderful way to compromise.”

“It’sannoying.” She huffs again, and I try not to laugh.

“I thought you loved our pros and cons lists,” Porter says to her, lips turned down.

She sends him a look. “Nobodyloves lists.”

“Not true. Your uncle Foster loves them.”

“Uncle Foster is crazy. Aunt Wren told me so.”

Their names are too unique for it not to be the couple I’ve never met but have heard so much about from my friend Drew and her fiancé, Winston.

I’ve been babysitting Drew’s son, Riker, since he was born. We used to live in the same apartment building until Winston whisked her away like a grumpy knight in shining armor.

Even though she’s moved, she still lets me watch Riker for her at least twice a month. She’s never actually said it to me, but I think she knows the extra money I get from watching him is what buys the majority of my groceries. Turns out working two part-time minimum-wage jobs while going to school doesn’t, andpaying your way through life with no help doesn’t exactly give you a good cushion.

But that’s what I signed up for when I left with nothing but a thin stack of cash and a backpack.

Even if it means some weeks all I’m eating is ramen, I still don’t regret it.

“You know Foster and Wren?”

Porter looks at me, and for a moment he looks guilty about it. Which is really stupid, because it’s a small town. I’m sure he didn’t pick this place out of the blue.

“I, uh, I kind of… Well, I kind of moved out here for them. Foster’s my best friend.”

I nod because of course that would be the case.Stupid small towns.

“So, you know Drew, then?”

“She gave me your information last year when I was tossing around the idea of moving here. I passed it along to my assistant and forgot about it. Mel being Mel, she didn’t. When you applied, she put two and two together and kept your application on the top, although you knowing them isn’t why you got the interview. She didn’t tell me, I’m sure because she knows I don’t like to know anything about applicants before I meet them.” His eyes turn soft. “I don’t think your passionate letter hurt your chances either. She was very impressed by it. We both were.”

I don’t know why my heart starts pounding like I’ve been running a marathon. I’m sure my eyes look wild right now, but I can’t help it.

The thought of Porter reading my letter…it makes me feel even more exposed to him than I have been, which is crazy because he’s the last guy who saw me naked.

“You read my letter?”

“Applied for what?” Kyrie butts in.

I didn’t even think she was listening to us, her attention occupied by a Marvel pillow that changes pictures when you run your hand over it.

“To be your new nanny,” Porter says.

I like that he’s honest with her.

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