Dillon grinned over at David, who had showed up with room service at about ten thirty p.m. The man had a flight out at one in the morning, and Dillon would leave Wednesday afternoon. He wanted to go to Montana, but Ace and the CEO, Sandy, really wanted him to go home to Idaho. Luckily, he could take a commuter hop from one to the other pretty quick. Either way, he’d missed his original Monday flight out.
“At least my stomach is growling. I swear, that shot Jonesy gave me, what? Two days ago? Made me a complete idiot.”
“It did. It was adorable. Any time you need someone to prop you up in the shower when you’re stupid, just call. I’ll check my schedule.”
Dillon’s smile faded a little, feeling kinda stiff. He knew David didn’t mean it that way, but he didn’t quite know what to do with offers like that from anyone but Coke. “I couldn’t help it that none of my muscles worked.”
“You couldn’t. You should be back to rights in no time.”
“Thanks for all of your help, Dave-O. I haven’t been thisdumb in a long time.” Dillon met the warm brown eyes he’d always admired. “I saw Coke laid out over Coop and that bull bearing down, and I went a little nuts.”
“You gotta let him do his job, Lonnie. There’s never been one as good as Coke Pharris.”
“I know. He’s just so torn up about Jason, and I knew if Cooper got hurt worse, he’d be so guilty… That sounds crazy, huh?” It did when he said it out loud. It had made sense when he’d thought it.
“Jason’s got the hardest fucking head on earth.” David snorted. “I’m surprised he’s not back already, at least to do appearances.”
“Oh, I’m sure he will be. Coke just loves him like a son.” Jesus, that was close. They would all kick his ass if he let it slip about Jason. Hell, he might jump off a bridge himself.
“Yeah. Coke’s a good man.” David gave him a look, a little knowing, a lot arch. “Surprised he didn’t check on you, though, when he stopped and got his stuff…”
Dillon sat up straight, his ribs protesting madly. “Wait. You didn’t see him? He didn’t leave a note?” Coke had come and gotten his stuff? God, he’d been out of it.
“No, he must have come during the night, after I went back to my room. I noticed his bag was gone yesterday morning.”
“Oh, damn it.” That wasn’t like Coke. Unless he tried to wake Dillon up and couldn’t. Those drugs had been strong enough that he’d been out like a light before the door closed behind David Sunday night.
“I need to call him. You know where my cell got to?”
“I don’t…”
The Cowboy in Mestarted playing, and David grinned. “On the bedside table.”
“Oh, cool.” He grabbed it, flipping it open without even looking at the number. “Hello?”
“Whereis he, Dillon? Momma and Jack said they can come out if y’all need. I didn’t find out till five minutes ago, I swear to God.” Jason. What?
“Wait. Jason, slow down. What are you talking about?” His heart kicked into high gear, throbbing against his ribs.
“Coke. Coke, man. What hospital’s he in?”
“I— Hospital?” He thought he might puke. “What. What happened? I’m still in Fort Worth?”
“Lonnie? Lonnie, what’s wrong, honey?” David leaned close, face concerned.
Jason, though, was quiet. Stone quiet.
“Jason?” He waved a hand at David, hoping he hadn’t lost Jason. “Jason, please. What happened?”
He heard Jason talk to someone on his end of the phone, sounding confused as hell. “Bax. He don’t know. He’s still in Cowtown, with David Donaldson. He don’t even know.”
“Fucker.” Bax’s voice was flat, hard as steel. “Hang up the phone, Mini.”
“But.”
“Just do it. We gotta find Coke.”
The line went dead.
