Page 38 of One Last Shot
He smiled, and she sighed and drew up one knee. “I’m waiting for the next fifteen minutes, then I’ll go back.” Her eyes filled. “I’m not even sure he knows I’m here.”
He couldn’t help the urge to take her hand. Squeeze it. “He knows.”
She shrugged, nodded. Then, “Why are you doing this, Oaken?”
“What?”
“Sticking around. Doing the show with Air One.”
He looked down the hall, then back to her. Stared at her a long time.Good question, really.
And then for some reason, Mike walked into his head, that moment before they jumped out of the chopper.“There’s nothing like jumping out of a plane to figure out what you’re made of!”
Huh.“Because I want to . . . I don’t know . . . maybe figure out if I have what it takes . . .”
“To do what? Survive?”
He frowned at her. “Maybe.” But right behind his answer was the echo of Axel’s words—“This isn’tSurvival Quest. No one is going to kickyou off the team.”
Wait...“Call me if you need me,” he said even as Seraphina frowned.
“Where are you going?”
“I think... to find something.” He lifted his hand to her and headed to the elevator.
And maybe it started with Boo Kingston.
CHAPTER 5
Did no one besides her see the looming disaster? Screams, tragedy, death— “Moose, c’mon, you can’t actually think this is a good idea. Not after today.”
Boo planted herself in Moose’s office, the door partially open to the radio playing in the lounge area of the Tooth, the tangy smell of lasagna lingering in the air from the small but decent kitchen.
The rest of the team lounged in the main area on the two big sofas, a flat screen playing an oldMagnum, P.I.episode. Pictures of Denali and other Alaska-scapes hung on canvas on the walls, along with a giant map of all of Alaska, with pins in the locations of past rescues. A whiteboard also listed off the training schedule, various announcements, and upcoming events.
Beyond the main room, down one wing, were the showers and a gear area, with ropes and climbing gear and extra litters and backboards, along with a parachute drying tower and a weight room.
Past Moose’s office off the main area was the dispatch office, and farther, two bunkrooms.
A real home away from home, and Moose practicallylived here, although apparently he had a beautiful timber-framed home on the Knik River.
Now he stood at the window looking out into the room, arms folded, jaw tight, as if mulling over words.
“You agree, right?”
He looked at her, blinking. Then, “Yeah. No... what?”
“Were you even paying attention?”
He drew in a breath. “Yes. Of course. You’re freaking out about today’s near accident.”
“Accident, boss. Oaken Fox could have broken his ankle. Or worse. I mean, depending on what weight was on that line—I can’t even think it. And Axel—seriously?”
“It was just a prank.”
“For what—the show? Since when do we play pranks in training? Please tell me you didn’t give the okay?—”
He held up his hand.