Close to Home by Liz Lee Page A

didn't add up.
    “I’m telling you, he looks like death warmed over…
    “I thought about leaving him…
    “I know, I know. I heard him. But my dad’s wrong here, Eliza…
    “No, no. She won’t kill me…
    “I know. But he needs to…
    “I know I promised…. See you then."
    So much for gleaning information.
    Donovan walked into the room and shrugged into an old concert t-shirt as if he hadn't been listening.
    “You were right about one thing, Grady. I did need that shower.” He ran a comb through his hair as he slipped on his boat shoes. “But I’m not going back.”
    Grady stood in front of the door and crossed his arms as if preparing to make him an offer he couldn’t refuse. “Yeah, you are.”
    Donovan didn’t want to hit Grady, but he'd do it if he had to. “Whatever you’re thinking is messed up, man. Do you have any idea what I could do to your sister?”
    Grady didn’t pause before answering. “Yeah, I do. That’s why you’re going home.”
    “You’re nuts, man.”
    “And you’re worried. If you’d been the mean son of a bitch you’ve been about everything else, I’d have left you in that cell, but you're worried about Kacie Jo. I can see it. And you’re right. I can’t force you on that plane. But here’s what I’m going to do.”
    Grady fished in his pocket and pulled out a white envelope. “This is a ticket with your name on it. The plane leaves in three hours for DFW. You have a choice. You can be on it and maybe, just maybe, find a way to move on with life. Or you can stay in this god forsaken place feeling sorry for yourself.”
    He laid the envelope on the table next to an empty tequila bottle and a case of Mexican beer. Then he turned and walked out the door, closing it behind him.
    Donovan crossed the room and picked up the envelope. Sure enough, there was a ticket with his name. Seat 14C. Non-stop to DFW.
    With a sigh he threw the papers back onto the table. He spied the case of beer, practically heard the sirens’ song of complete sensory dissolution.
    But then he remembered Maria and Isabel. He definitely did not need another drink yet.
    Maybe he’d go find Sam. See if they needed someone in Turkey. He liked the base there. The memory of desert wind and sand flew through his mind, and he shook his head. He couldn’t go back.
    He’d promised Ali, but he couldn’t do it. Yet another promise he’d walked out on. Of course, Ali had known it was a lie, had known he’d never be back even as he’d hugged him and absolved him of all blame.
    Donovan knew better. He’d caused Anaj’s death, and he could never forget.
    The ticket sitting on his table mocked him. Maybe he could go back to Caldale for just a day or two. Maybe he could head on to New York or LA afterwards.
    No matter what, he owed Kacie Jo a huge apology.  
    He picked up the ticket at the same time a knock sounded on his door.
    Grabbing his duffel bag, he opened the door and stopped when Grady walked back inside the room.
    “I was going to leave, but I came here for a reason.”
    Spidy Sense on full alert, Donovan wasn't sure he wanted to hear what Grady had to say. “Yeah, thanks. I don’t know what…”
    He stopped when Grady kept talking. “Don’t thank me you sorry good for nothing excuse of a man. I know I told you you have a choice, but you don’t. You’re either going back to Caldale or I’m going to kick your ass and then sue you for every last penny you've ever made.”
    “Jesus, Grady, I was on my way out the door. I know I was a royal prick to Kacie Jo. And I can’t make it up to her. There’s not a damn thing I can do to take it back, but I can try to apologize.”
    Grady stood there looking at him as if weighing whether he deserved a life or death sentence and then he punched him in the face. “That’s for sleeping with my sister you SOB.”
    Pain splintered his cheek. Usually, he’d fight back, but Donovan figured he pretty much had that one coming, but damn, that hurt.
    Only when