Page 45 of Doughn't Let Me Go

“We live together. It’s okay.” Kyrie waves her hand like my point is silly. “Pro: I’d make a new friend, and Dad says it’s important to make new friends in our new town.”

I can’t argue with that point… “Con: I’m technically a stranger, and you’re not supposed to talk to strangers.”

“How else are you supposed to make friends, then?”

“Oh snap,” Porter whispers, grinning at his daughter’s ability to best me.

“What kind of kid are you raising?”

He laughs. “You wouldn’t believe how often people ask me that.”

“Pro:Youget to make a new friend too.”

She doesn’t even know how much I need that.

“Con: I have to be at work in an hour.”

“Pro: It’s going to be really,reallyfun.”

Con: I’ve seen Porter naked.

Con: You’re not supposed to hang out with your one-night stand and his daughter.

Con: He’s the exact type of guy I could fall for if I ever let myself fall.

“Con: I’m all out of cons.”

Kyrie lets out a loud giggle. “Then I win. You’re shopping!”

I look at her. Her eyes are wide and hopeful, and she takes an extra-long blink, giving her best puppy dog eyes.

I slide my own eyes to Porter, and he’s doing the same.

For her, he mouths. He makes a show of holding his hands out, then tucking them into his jeans, like he’s trying to tell me that’s where they’ll stay.

“All right, let’s shop.”

It’s brief, but the look in Porter’s eyes is unmistakable.

Excitement.

* * *

Sayinggoodbye to Kyrie and Porter earlier tonight hurt more than I thought it would considering I barely know them.

But in that hour we spent together, meandering through the store…I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard before.

Kyrie is so creative and smart, full of life and laughter. I liked her straight away.

And Porter? God. He’s patient and lets his daughter do her own thing with that perfect balance of authority and freedom.

But my favorite thing was seeing him in that damn tiara.

Not once did he take it off. Not when older women scowled at him. Not when the attractive ladies walked by. He was so in the zone, so absorbed in his daughter and making her happy that he didn’t give a flying shit what anyone thought of him.

I liked him more in that moment than I did when I was tangled up with him in bed.

“Dory, can you watch the front? I gotta head to the back for a bit.”

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