Lib Novel Page 85
“Opening a box isn’t actual cooking—I have changed my stand on that,” Cleo added.
“He makes it from scratch,” Trey told her. “And it’s awesome.”
“Really? Well, in that case, consider the kitchen yours on Saturday.”
“Done. Sonya, I’m taking you up on your offer to leave some stuff upstairs. I’ll dump some in there tomorrow.”
“Good.” She rose to open the door for the pets as all four sat in front of it. “Stay out back. She never does anything out back. At least so far. More wine, Cleo?”
“No, thanks. I’m going up to do some sketching in a bit.”
“Beer?”
“I’m good,” Trey told her.
“One does it for me. I need to take off after this slice.”
“You could stay, Owen.”
“Can’t. Got work waiting. I just came for the pizza. Wouldn’t mind a Coke for the road.”
“Would the work involve my boat?”
“Might, later. Depending. I’m building a doghouse.”
“Yoda’s doghouse!” Sonya hurried back to the table, threw her arms around his neck from behind. “Is it wonderful?”
“Not yet.”
“Can you take a picture? Can I see a picture?”
“No.”
“He’ll be firm on that,” Trey warned her.
“Couple of weeks, and you’ll see it. You don’t like it, remember it’s your design.”
“I’m going to love it, and so’s Yoda.”
“Witnessed.” He pointed to Trey, to Cleo. “I’m going to take off.”
Sonya got his Coke, hugged him again.
“I’ll walk out with you. I’ve got some things in the truck. To leave upstairs.”
Once out of earshot, Owen looked over. “Look, man, if you’re worried, I can shuffle things around and stay tonight.”
“No, I got it. And hell, Owen, most of the time, they’ve got it.”
When they went outside, Owen walked out far enough to look up at the Gold Room. “It’s the bird thing.”
“The bird thing. Sonya’s had it happen before, but she’d have said if the damn thing was that big. And those talons? They looked real enough. Didn’t last, but while they did…”
“Didn’t lastis key. And we can worry about it lasting longer.” He started back to his truck. “But I don’t see there’s anything we can do about it.”
He opened the door so Jones hopped in.
Not yet, Trey thought as his friend drove away. But there wouldcome a time, had to come a time, when they did more than react, more than play defense.