Page 24 of Lost Treasure

* * * *

Haravin hadn’t beenkidding about the ice bath. She needed to reduce the swelling, andher cool pads were already in the freezer. When she finishedpanting through the pain, and it subsided, she waited for herover-the-counter medication to kick in.

It took half anhour, but she felt less like she had gone on a slide made of cheesegraters.

When she gotout of the cold bath, she pulled on a sun dress without anythingunder it and went to lie down. The active bleeding was over. Now,it was just heat, swelling, and pain. Fantastic.

She sent Ford atext that she would be sick the following day, with her apologies.With the important things done, she crawled into bed and pulled thepuffy duvet over her. Memories of Alohi curling up behind her inthe morning flickered through her, and then she pushed them away.She would sleep better alone.

* * * *

Ford grinned and calledOlivia. “Well, things must have gone well. Haravin took tomorrowoff.”

“Well,that’s good. Was she excited?” Olivia was grinning; he couldtell.

“She said shewas sick and apologized.”

The bubbly joyin their link fizzled. “What?”

“She said shewas sick and that she was sorry. Wait. Now that I listen to it outloud, it isn’t good.”

“Can youwatch the babies? I will head over to her place and check onher.”

Ford frowned.“I can do it. The video is rendering.”

“I think shewould be more likely to talk to me, Ford. Omega or not, you arestill a man.”

“Fine, but takeAmbrose.”

“Fine. Seeyou for dinner. Looks like you are cooking.”

Ford blinked.“Shit. Gotta go.”

Chapter Five

Olivia knocked andsaid, “Haravin, it’s Olly.”

There was asound from inside. “I will be there in a minute.”

Haravin openedthe door and said, “Hey, Olly, come on in.”

Olivia wasshocked. Haravin was white with grey around her lips and eyes. Thepain in her expression was one that Olivia was familiar with.

“Oh, honey, sitdown. What happened?”

Haravin sat,her sundress bagging around her, and a pillow pulled onto her lap.Haravin told her what had transpired.

Olivia coveredher mouth. “Oh, no. Honey, what do you need?”

“I just need tolie down for twenty hours and keep cold compresses on my junk.”

Olivia said,“You have to come home.”

“No. Not myhome. This is my home.”

Olivia lookedaround and finally took in the giant wall case full of trophies andribbons. “Wow. You got all these?”

“Yes. With mydance partner. We were good.”

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