Alissa made it through her work day without nodding off, but if she had a desk job, she’d have been asleep by noon.
She managed to make it home and back into bed before falling asleep, a dog on both sides of her. She’d set her alarm for four so she’d have time to shower and get ready before Shawn arrived at five.
Instead of waking to a peaceful chirping noise on her phone, she bolted straight up in bed when Dodger and Pirate started barking. They jumped from the bed and streaked out of her bedroom, leaving her alone with her rippling heartbeat.
“Hey, guys,” Shawn said, and true panic gripped Alissa’s lungs. “Liss?” he called, and Dodger came running back into the bedroom.
“No,” Alissa said. “Get out of here, Dodger.”
But he simply jumped up on the bed and faced the door, panting with
