Chapter99: 99

I SIT on one of the decks with Weston’s parents as he puts Daisy to bed. I offered to do it, but he insisted, his threat from dinner lingering. “So, are you from Chicago originally?” Alec asks as I sip a small glass of Prosecco, the warm night breeze on my face. “I am, born and raised.” “Are your parents still in the city?” “No, my mother passed away and—” “Oh, that’s tragic. I’m so sorry,” she interrupts. I smile awkwardly because I never know what to say when I tell people that and they respond like that. “Thanks, and my dad lives in Florida now.” “Ah,” Alec says, nodding his head, “the retirement life.” I look at Alec’s profile. Strangely, Weston looks nothing like his father who is shorter and squat, his barrel chest and broad shoulders making him appear larger than he is. Weston is tall and lean like his mom and has her eyes but not her blond hair, which if I had to guess is probably from a salon anyway. I don’t have to turn around to know that Weston has joined us; I can hear the