Page 47 of The Seven Rings
“Okay.” She took a sip of wine, laughed. “Questionableis high praise.” Then handed the glass to Cleo. “I remember you hold the stick like this.”
“Something like that. Let’s chalk it up first.”
He did it for her, then adjusted her hold on the cue. “You want smooth, with a follow-through.”
“Okay, here we go.”
She slid the cue a couple of times, then rammed it into the cue ball. With a clatter, balls rolled, fell into pockets with a thump. Three found homes, then four. Then the eight ball dropped smoothly into the right-side pocket.
“Oh! Is that the win or the loss?”
Owen just eyed her narrowly.
“That was not a lucky shot,” Trey said.
“It sort of was. I haven’t played in a couple years.” She took her glass back from a hooting Cleo. “I guess it’s like riding a bike.”
“Friend.” He looked across the table at Owen. “We’ve been hustled.”
“You a shark, too?” Owen asked Cleo.
“I taught Sonya everything I know, but I admit, the student became the master.”
“Rack ’em, Trey. And no mercy.”
The band opened with “One Eyed Bastard” as the women won the game. They exchanged fist bumps and exploding fingers.
“I’d be humiliated,” Trey decided, “if the two of you weren’t so damn good.”
“I’m humiliated anyway, but I’ll live with it.”
They went to their table, and Sonya studied the band. Four guys, one girl. Probably college age, though they looked younger to her, with a lot of floppy over-the-eyes hair, ripped jeans, and combat boots.
Then they rolled into Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love a Bad Name.”
“That song’s older than they are,” Sonya pointed out.
“A classic’s a classic” was Owen’s opinion. “But the lead guitar’s no Richie Sambora.”
“Who is?” And Trey let out a quick laugh and rose. “Take a seat.”
His pregnant sister, Anna, did just that. “Whew! We took an ice cream walk after we had dinner out. Then Seth says, ‘Hey, let’s drop in here for a set.’ And who do we find?”
“You look wonderful,” Sonya said. “Glowing.”
“Pretty sure that’s sweat. There’s a nice breeze out there, but I’m running hot these days.”
“Sweat or not, looking good, Mama. How’s she doing?”
“Feisty, Owen, the girl is feisty.”
“The best kind,” Cleo said.
“And you”—she gripped Cleo’s hand—“and you, too”—then Sonya’s. “The nursery mural is beyond fabulous. I swear I can’t count the number of times a day I go in there just to look at it.”
Trey pulled over two chairs, crowded them in, as Seth brought Anna a glass.
“Bottled water on ice, as ordered. I just had an impulse to stop by,check out the band. We’re always looking for entertainment options at the hotel.”
