Page 12 of Awakening the Sheriff

I’d shared this much, so I might as well bare my soul.

“I suspect he did some experimental drug use back there. He came home with bloodshot eyes, claiming it was from smoke, but I doubt it. The guys he was hanging out with, they were bad news. They had a reputation for being rich, spoiled white kids with too much money and time on their hands and a propensity for getting into trouble.”

“Not the kind of friends you’d want for your kids.”

“Exactly. I’d hoped he’d make new friends here, but so far, it’s not working. Not that I can blame the other kids. If he’s as sulky and closed off at school as he is at home, I wouldn’t want to be his friend either.” Byron’s angry words came back to me, and I swallowed bitter bile away. “He hates it here and told me he’d prefer to live with his mom.”

Auden winced. “That one must’ve hurt.”

Funny how that one sentence made it a little less sharp. “Like he stabbed me through the heart.”

Auden regarded me with a mix of understanding and concern. “I’ve worked with troubled teens before, both in the Army and as a deputy and sheriff. Often all they need is someone to listen to them, to understand what they’re going through.”

I clenched my fists at my sides, struggling to find the words. “I’ve tried listening. But every time I think we’re making progress, he shuts me out again. It’s like there’s a wall between us I can’t break down. He’s… I just can’t get through to him.”

“Keep trying, Keaton,” Auden said, his voice gentle but firm. “You might not see results right away but don’t give up on him. Be patient with him.”

“Patience, huh?” I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “That’s not my strong suit.”

“Consider this a prime opportunity to learn, then.” Auden leaned forward in his chair. “You care about your kids, and that’s the most important thing. By moving here, you’ve demonstrated to your sons that you’re willing to make sacrifices for their well-being. That speaks volumes, and over time, you have to have faith that they’ll come to see that too. Don’t give up on him. Keep showing him you love him and that you’re there for him.”

“You think that will be enough? I don’t want to lose him and have him end up some statistic or item on the news.”

“There will always be risks and temptations in life, no matter where you are. You can’t shield Byron from them, but you did the right thing by moving to Forestville. It’s a safer environment for your children than a big city.”

“Safer, maybe.” I tapped my fingers on the armrest of the chair. “But there’s still plenty of trouble Byron could get into.”

“And he’ll try to find it. Keep talking to him. Make sure he knows the dangers and consequences of his actions. Be honest with him about your own experiences and struggles. It’s all any of us can do as parents. We try our best, and we hope our kids learn from our mistakes.”

“Hope.” The word tasted bitter on my tongue.

Auden’s eyes softened. This man might look like a hard ass, but I was discovering he had a mushy, kind core. “You’re not alone in this fight. Between you as his dad and his teacher, Principal Hebert, and me, we have a lot of adults willing to step up and do what’s necessary to keep him safe.”

I wasn’t alone. Wow, that one sentence hit me hard. Mandy hadn’t been much help when the problems with Byron started. According to her, he didn’t act out when he was with her, which I found hard to believe, but I didn’t have evidence that suggested otherwise. On the surface, she’d taken it seriously, but all the efforts had come from me until I had felt I was carrying this burden alone. The thought that these people who didn’t even know us were willing to help me keep my son safe was enough to make me weep with gratitude.

“Thank you.”

Auden fidgeted with a pen on his desk, the afternoon sunlight catching the gray in his hair and beard, which gave him an almost ethereal glow. I was mesmerized. Yeah, yeah, the whole “big hands, big dick” was a myth, but a man could dream. And I was dreaming all right, picturing the bulky sheriff holding me down, pressing my face into the mattress as he pounded into me. He’d be the perfect amount of rough, just enough to make me feel it without hurting me. I liked some bruises the next day, the lingering sting in my ass.

Oh, I loved sex with women as well. I’d married Mandy for a reason, though lately, I’d wondered what had attracted me to her. I loved the softness of women, their curves and plump breasts. Exactly the opposite of what drew me to men. Since my divorce, I’d mostly hooked up with men. It was easier—no pregnancy scares and, in my experience, women were more likely to want more than sex—but somehow, I also craved sex with men. Big, strong, bulky men like Sheriff Frant, whose body made my mouth water.

“Keaton.” My name snapped me back to reality, “I know it’s tough, but you’re doing everything right. Keep trying to connect with Byron.”

“Right.” I tore my gaze away from his hands and focused on his eyes. I searched for any sign of interest, but all I saw was genuine concern and empathy. Which was nice, don’t get me wrong, but goshdarnit, I’d hoped for a hidden gay side of him.

“Thank you, Sheriff. I appreciate your advice and support.”

He rose from his chair. “My pleasure. Come find me if there’s anything I can do for you.”

He meant that in a neighborly way, of course, not as a veiled pickup line, but I still found solace in Auden’s words and reassurance. My attraction to Auden might be unrequited, but his support meant more than I could express. And with that comforting thought, I stepped into the fading sunlight, determined to get Byron to talk to me.

5

AUDEN

The downside of living in a small town like Forestville was that the options to go out for dinner were limited. There was Eddie’s Drive-In—which wasn’t a drive-in but a standard American burger joint—and the Double F served decent food, but that was it. Brianna’s only offered breakfast and lunch.

A month or two ago, a new Italian restaurant had opened, located halfway between Forestville and Valley Creek, the next town over, and tonight, we’d booked a dinner reservation for all of us.

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