Page 138 of The Seven Rings
When she’d stripped down, Cleo wrapped her in a towel, used the other on her hair.
“That’s better. We can hit it with your hair dryer.”
“It’s better.” But Sonya leaned her head on Cleo’s shoulder a moment. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Lucky you don’t have to find out, ever. Let’s get you dressed.”
Dry and dressed, Sonya tapped her face. “How bad?”
“Nothing ten minutes with cold compresses wouldn’t fix, but in this case, I think you go as you are. Son, Trey’s worried, and we’re in the dark, so more worried.”
“You’re right, and I’ve steadied up enough now. Thanks to you.”
“We steady each other. That’s the deal.”
Sonya managed a smile. “Best deal ever. Let’s go downstairs.”
Owen and Jones waited in the hall. After a careful study, Owen nodded.
“If I’d gone down before you were ready, he’d ask, and I’d tell him. You should do that.”
“Damn it, Owen.”
He scowled as he looked at Cleo. “What?”
“You just keep racking up the points.”
“Yeah? What’s my score?”
“Game’s not over.”
Downstairs, Trey paced the kitchen. He was a patient man. He’d been told, more than once, he had too much of that particular quality.
But his patience had just about reached its limit.
“Fuck this.” He started out, then heard them coming. Pulling back some control, he poured whiskey for Owen.
Yoda ran over to Sonya, then rose on his hind legs as if to cheer her.
“That’s a good boy.” Petting him, she looked at Trey. “Sorry it took so long.”
“It’s all right.” He knew the aftermath of a crying jag when he saw it, so pulled the patience back again. “Why don’t you sit down? Why don’t we all sit down?”
Still standing, Owen picked up the whiskey, drank. “That’ll do it.” He pointed at Sonya.
“A shot of that, tea chaser. I’ve got it. Sit with Cleo. You’re the ones who went through it. Trey and I just wait.”
“That’s a tough gig.”
“It damn sure is.”
As she reached for the whiskey bottle, Owen closed a hand over hers. “Appreciate it.” Then poured her a shot himself.
“Very much appreciate it,” Sonya said as she took a seat at the table. Yoda crawled under to lie at her feet. “And I’m sorry you had to wait until I pulled it together.”
Trey opted for coffee, and brought it with him to sit. “You were only gone about a half hour this time. Twenty-seven minutes, actually.”
“I don’t think we were there that long, were we, Owen?”
