Page 93 of One Last Shot

“Apparently Huxley has called a wrap. So I dunno. Is that coffee?”

“Have at it,” London said, heading upstairs.

Boo followed her, not sure how to react to the stone in her heart.

But by the time she’d changed clothes, gotten into the back seat of Shep’s warm truck for the ride through the slickened streets of Anchorage to the Tooth, she’d decided that, wow, she was an idiot.

See, this was why she shouldn’t ever put on pants?—

Oaken was standing outside the Tooth, dressed in a parka, snow pants, wool hat, and gloves as they pulled up.

He walked up to the truck as Shep put it in Park and they got out.

Boo looked up at him. “What are you doing here?”

Oh, that hadn’t come out at all like she’d hoped. Or maybe he’d hoped either, because his mouth opened. “I... uh, I knew I should have called Friday night. Or come over.”

“It’s fine.” She headed inside to the locker room.

But he grabbed her arm and pulled her down the hall into the gear room. Shut the door and rounded on her. “I’m sorry, Boo. I saw the meme.”

Everything emptied out of her. She looked away, her eyes burning.No. Not here. Not now—“It doesn’t matter?—”

“It does. I should have called and checked onyou. It was late, and I was out for chicken with Moose and—” He actually looked pained. “And that’s no excuse.”

She wanted to push past him, but he was standing in her space, blocking the door.

And she’d forgotten how to breathe.

“It’s not fair, and it’s not right, and social media is all lies, and I’m sorry that being with me has dragged this all up again.”

She looked up at him. “This isn’t your fault.”

“Really?” He pulled off the hood, shoved his gloves into his pocket. “Because if you weren’t with me, then none of this would matter.” He swallowed. “But... you need to know that... I meant what I said.”

She wasn’t sure?—

“There’s something between us. Something good. And something... well, I lied when I said I didn’t write that song ‘She’s My Girl’ for anyone. Because, Boo, I think I wrote it for you.”

Her mouth opened. What? “I thought . . . but . . . what’s happening here?”

He touched her face, his thumb caressing her cheek. “What’s happening is that maybe this isn’t over. Maybe it’s just starting.”

Then he bent and kissed her. Just a whisper on her lips, and maybe it would have been more, but in that moment, the door slammed against Oaken, which pushed him into Boo, and it was all she could do to hang on to him, let him pick her up and hold her to keep her from falling.

Then he turned her around, and Moose came in. “Sorry. Oops. But this is not the time, guys.”

And now she wanted to slink away into some dark hole and hide.

But not Oaken. “Moose. This isyourfault. So give us two moments here.”

His fault?

And then Moose held up his handsand walked out.

Walked. Out.

Wait, what just happened here?