Page 72 of Doughn't Let Me Go

“What’s your deal?” I ask.

She sighs, irritation ringing loud and clear. “My deal? Mydeal?” To my surprise, she steps toward me. She might be expecting me to shrink away in fright, but I don’t. “My deal is that tonight is my night off—myfirstnight off, mind you.”

“That’s your own choice,” I interrupt.

It’s the wrong thing to say. Her eyes fall to slits.

“It’s my night off andyou’rehere, the one person I’m actively trying to avoid and the one person I can’t seem to fucking escape.” Her eyes slam closed, and her voice drops low…sad. “All I want to do is escape. I don’t want to keep thinking about this awkward situation we’re in. I just want one night.”

One night.

That’s all we had before.

Maybe…

Without overthinking it, I reach toward her, my fingertips sweeping up her cheek until I wrap my hand around the side of her face. She doesn’t even flinch when I touch her, doesn’t pull away. No, she leansintomy touch.

“Dory.”

It’s a whisper, but I know she hears me.

“Stay.”

She peels her eyes open, her ocean orbs finding mine.

Then she moves out of my reach…and sits.

She doesn’t turn toward me, just stares across the bar top. Without asking, like he knew we needed it, the waiter sets another beer down in front of me and another water in front of Dory.

She gulps hers down, and I watch, not touching my own drink.

Finally, after several beats of silence, she turns toward me.

“Why are you here, Porter?”

Her inquiry is softer this time but still just as pained.

“I didn’t know you were here,” I tell her. “I promise. I didn’t even mean to drive here. It just happened. Guess my brain was seeking out simpler times or something.”

She lets out a derisive laugh. “That’s why I’m here too. Well, that and the cheap food.”

It annoys me to know she’s still living like this is all going to be gone tomorrow.

It won’t be. If I had my way, this would never end.

“Do I not pay you enough, Doris?”

“You do.” She almost looks embarrassed by it. “But I need to save. For school.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her I’ll pay for her school, but that’s stupid. I don’t know her well enough to offer something like that.

I’d like to though.

We don’t talk for a few minutes, and the waiter comes back.

“Not to alarm you, but a huge crowd of kids just came in. If you don’t place your orders now, you’re gonna get stuck behind them in the kitchen.”

“Thanks for the heads-up.” I look to Dory. “Ready to order?”

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