Chapter 19 - Alyson

“HOW DO YOU DO THIS EVERY DAY?” I FALL INTO A LOUNGE CHAIR, OVER EXAGGERATING MY

exhaustion. Though I am dragging, even with sleeping in past ten this morning.

Wes shrugs, a slight smile on his face as he watches his son run around the yard with the dogs. “You just do.”

“You’re like a superhero. Literally. Saving lives as a cop and rocking the whole single-parent thing.”

He bypasses the compliment. “Keep your shoes on, buddy!” he shouts to Jackson. “He’s going through a barefoot phase right now.”

“Better than his bare-butt phase when he wouldn’t wear pants.”

Wes laughs, adjusting his gun on his belt before sitting on a chair next to me. He’s on his lunch break, and came by for a homemade meal and to see Jackson.

“You do know the crime is really low here, don’t you? Or have you been away so long you forgot? I’m not saving lives in Eastwood.”

I shoot him a look, trying desperately hard to ignore the sick feeling in my sto