Page 22 of One Last Shot

She blinked, her brain blank.

“You had a sort of chemistry?—”

“There was no chemistry!”

“And you two already know each other.”

“We talked for, what—an hour—in the car? I don’t know him.”

“And Huxley said that you would know exactly what to do?—”

Oh no. No?—

“Given that you’ve already been on a reality show.”

She couldn’t breathe.

“Boo?”

“Check, please.”

He just frowned at her, and it occurred to her then that, “Wait—do you even know what show?”

“No idea. She just said you made it to the semifinals.”

She closed her eyes. Wished she had that pie to bury her face in. “I was onSurvivor Quest.”

A beat. She opened her eyes.

He looked impressed. “That’s a tough show.”

“It’s a brutal show. You not only have to survive in the wilderness or island or jungle or desert or wherever they drop you, but you have to reach a destination every day, likeTheAmazing Race. You compete individually, but you have to make alliances to survive. And then, despite your audience points, your own teammates can still vote you off the show.”

“And you made it to the semifinals. What is that—three people left?”

Two cutthroat betrayers and herself. “Yes.”

“Interesting.” He picked up his shake again.

“What does that mean?”

He set it down, then signaled to Tillie, who came over. “Can you box up my pie? And a box for Boo and her chicken and fries.”

“Of course.” She walked away.

Moose looked at Boo. “It just explains a lot.” He pulled out his wallet and then a card. “Must have hurt to get voted off, right near the end,” he said softly. Met her eyes.

“It was a television show. A game. No. Big. Deal.”

Except for the fact that it had shattered her life. Derailed her future.

Turned her into an internet laughingstock.

So there was that.

“Super. Then you won’t mind taking Oaken Fox under your wing, training him up, and saving Air One Rescue from closing its doors.”

And what was she supposedto say to that?