Page 117 of One Last Shot

London came up to her, took her hand. “How’s your knee?”

“Hurts. Doc said my kneecap is cracked in three places, so that’s awesome. No surgery, however, just a long recovery time. Did you go back to Copper Mountain last night?”

“No. The weather wasn’t great. But I called up there this morning. They found Grace.”

“I just saw the news report.”

London’s voice fell. “It looks like she might havebeen murdered.”

“The reporter talked with Deke. He said the police were looking into it.”

She stuck her hands in her pockets. “I saw Reynolds in the lobby with Seraphina. I think they’re waiting for Oaken.”

Her eyes widened. “He’s coming here?”

London frowned. “Yes. Of course. Moose texted me—they landed a bit ago at the Tooth.”

So the report must have been pre-recorded.

“I don’t want to see him.”

London gave her a look, then reached behind her and pulled the curtain. As if that might protect their conversation.Whatever. “Why?”

“Because...” Boo closed her eyes, then pressed her hands to her face. “I just... oh, London. I think I made a fool out of myself.”

London’s hands wrapped around her wrists, pulled her hands away. “I don’t understand.”

Boo sighed, her throat thick. “I think I fell for him.”

A beat.

And she could hardly bear to say it. “But I think it was all an act. For ratings.”

“No—”

“Yes. I heard Huxley and him talking after I had my little run-of-the-mouth moment with the father of the bride. Something about how he wouldn’t be to blame when we broke up—and that he’d kept their deal, or... I don’t know. I was on drugs.”

“Exactly. You were on drugs. How do you know what went down?”

And that was just it, wasn’t it? She didn’t.

But she couldn’t bear to find out. To beright.“Let’s get out of here.”

“What, now?”

“Yes. Get my clothes.”

London plopped the backpack on the bed. “I brought you sweatpants and a sweatshirt.”

“I love you.”

“Yeah, well, I don’t love this idea of you breaking out of the hospital.”

“I’m fine. I have a brace. The doc is discharging me today. Get a wheelchair.”

London took a breath, then nodded and disappeared.

Boo untied her gown, then pulled on the sweatshirt. It was long and oversized. She found her phone in the bottom of the pack too.