His dad thumbed a reply text with surprising dexterity, shoved the phone away, and then got back to business.

She also loved the old guy just as he was, and had stuck with him longer than anyone else since Grif’s mom. She was half Donald’s age, silly, and highly dramatic. “Deanna says to tell you hello.”ĭeanna was his girlfriend. ” He pulled out his phone, and a ridiculous smile crossed his face. ”įrom inside his dad’s pocket came the refrain “I’m A Slave 4 U. You didn’t call me because you’re stubborn as hell.” “I didn’t call you because I didn’t want to distract you overseas. “Not the same thing,” Donald said tightly. “Did you call me when you had a heart attack?” “So you nearly bought the farm.”ĭonald didn’t relax or smile. Then he knocked back his drink and slowly set the glass on the bar. “I screwed up and got too close to an IED.”ĭonald went utterly still for a very long beat. Grif rubbed his temple again, and Donald looked over at him. He’d always been a better doggy dad than a real dad. Donald smiled and pulled a dog biscuit from his pocket for each, receiving doggie kisses for the effort. Thing One and Thing Two leaped to their feet and happily panted along in his wake, hoping he was going for food. “Holly will be glad for it.”ĭonald strode to the bar to pour himself two fingers of whiskey. His dad looked at him and then nodded curtly. He was lucky these were his only problems, and he knew it. He was getting used to living with one, along with the ringing ears, light sensitivity, and fatigue.

The long nap had taken care of the headache for now, but it would be back. Grif rose and absently rubbed the scar running along his temple. And without his mom as a go-between, it had only gotten worse. Grif tried to make it home whenever he could-but admittedly that hadn’t been very often since the two of them tended to circle each other like annoyed bears. “How? You’ve barely been home except to bury your mother.” Donald made a derisive noise that instantly made Grif feel fifteen and stupid all over again.

Rumor has it by jill shalvis