Page 82 of Doughn't Let Me Go

He laughs lightly. “Is it bad?”

“No. It’s good—too good.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll start showering less.”

Laughing, I put distance between us, even though I don’t want to. “I’d really appreciate that.”

“Maybe I’ll start adding onions to every meal too. Make sure my breath is extra gross, just for you.”

He heads back inside, I guess to get more to drink.

“You’re too kind, really,” I call to him.

I lean against the railing, watching the waves roll across the ocean on the not-too-distant horizon.

I didn’t pay a lot of attention to Porter’s house the first night I came here, my mind preoccupied with other things. When I came back for my first day with Kyrie, I was shocked to see it was so close to the ocean. The back doesn’t butt up against it, but it is just across the street. You can literally walk down to the beach, something I’ve done several times with Kyrie.

Being out on the balcony, up this high, it almost feels like you can reach out and touch it.

“Are you trying to touch the water?”

I look over my shoulder, grinning. “Maybe.”

I actually hadn’t realized I’d stretched my hand out at all.Man, this tequila might be stronger than I thought. Perhaps I shouldn’t have a second drink.

“For you,” Porter says, holding out another shot.

Okay, fine. I’m totally having another shot.

He sets a plate full of limes down on the railing.

I point to them. “What are those for?”

“To chase it with. Thought it might make it easier on ya.” He lifts his own shot. “Lick the salt, down the shot, and suck the lime.”

I see his glass is void of salt, but mine is coated.

“Where’s your salt?”

“I don’t need any.”

I frown. “Why not?”

He puffs his chest out. “Because I’m all man, baby.”

“Says the guy who had salt and limes readily available in hisoffice.”

He tucks his lips together like he’s trying not to laugh. “Fair point.” He shakes his glass. “You ready?”

I make a face at the fire water. “As I’ll ever be.”

“You don’t have to drink it, you know.”

“It’s my twenty-first birthday, Porter. It’s a rite of passage to get drunk today.”

“Something tells me you’ve never followed everyone else’s path. Why start now?”

Because I need something to take the edge off, and you’re not available.“Because it sounds fun. Now stop trying to talk me out of it and just drink.”

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