Long Way Home by Carolyn Gray Read Online Free Page B

head
    with his knuckles, making him screech.
    Sam woke up. “Hey, what the hell is going on?”

    Long Way Home
    13

    Lee said, “Your buddy’s pregnant.”
    “I’m not,” Tommy said. “Sylvie is!”
    “Same thing,” Nick said.
    Sam yawned and closed his eyes again. “Oh. That’s all? Nice.” His eyes shot open, and he
    sat up. “Tommy’s gonna be a pop?”
    Tommy preened. “Yup. Sylvie told me this morning. Couldn’t wait until I got home.
    We’ve been trying, you know.”
    “And trying and trying and trying…” Sam said sotto voce. “No wonder you didn’t rejoin
    us until now.”
    Nick sat back in his seat and slapped his leg. “This is awesome. Another baby to spoil
    rotten.” He eyed Tommy. “Hope you intend to let us.”
    “Of course.” Tommy looked mock-thoughtful, then gave Nick a sly look. “You’d better.”
    The pilot came on and did his usual welcome and review of the flight. Everyone quieted,
    Sam falling back to sleep almost instantly—a talent Lee envied—Nick returning to his iPhone to
    play a game, and Tommy beaming happily out the window, watching the clouds. Mutt had
    settled with his laptop, Greg with his cooking mags, and the others, farther back in the plane,
    were talking about something, Marisa’s voice punctuating the conversation.
    All was right and good in Dream’s world. Only Lee still felt different, out of place, out of
    sync. One last city, one last plane ride, one last concert hall. Dallas. Returning to Texas, the
    thought of which chilled him like nothing had in years.
    He was going home.

    * * * *
“I hope you enjoyed your stay with us, Mr. Smith,” the bright-faced desk clerk said. She
    smiled at him, her gaze roving over his features briefly. The appreciation in her eyes made him
    grit his teeth, though he was careful not to show it.
    He slid the credit card—not his own, of course—to her, avoiding her touch, and forced his
    lips to curve politely in return. “Thanks, I did.”
    “Where are you headed next?”
    He looked out through the hotel’s front doors. “Dallas, it looks like.”
    “That’s nice. It must be hard, traveling all the time like you do.”
    “It’s not so bad.” He checked his cell phone. The bus would leave in an hour. “Get to visit
    different cities, visit friends and family. They appreciate that.” Not that he had anyone who gave
    a damn about him anymore.
    “Still, it must be lonely.” She licked her lips.
    He turned away, briefly catching the droop of her mouth as he did so. She was cute but not
    exactly his type. He slid on his sunglasses, grateful for the sunny day. He tried not to make
    impressions wherever he went, though he’d been at this hotel in New Orleans enough times in
    the past to be remembered.
    “Here you go, Mr. Smith.” He turned, signed Robert Smith with a messy flourish, waited
    for his receipt, and started to leave.
    “Oh, Mr. Smith?”

    14

    Carolyn Gray

    He closed his eyes briefly, then checked the desk clerk’s name badge. Lulla Belle. Fitting
    name for New Orleans. He didn’t take off his sunglasses. “Yes?”
    “Mr. Clarke called while you were out this morning.”
    He tensed, carefully schooling his reaction. “Did you tell him I was here?”
    Her expression faltered. “No, he called for reservations. You don’t travel together
    anymore?”
    “When is he coming in?”
    “Tomorrow.”
    “Did he ask if I’d been through here?” he asked again. The look in her eyes confirmed his
    worst fears. Fuck.
    Pocketing the credit card—he would definitely need a new one now—he contemplated
    what to do. Dammit, he would have mentioned Dallas. A definite mistake. He slipped off his
    sunglasses and leaned toward her, waiting until he was rewarded with another smile. “Actually,
    we have separate routes now. I’m glad you said something, though. Forgot I need to head up to
    Kansas. You saved me a lot of trouble.” Or a lot worse.
    She beamed. “You’re welcome, Mr. Smith.”
    A few