Page 5 of A Rebel's Shot

“Easy, BFG.” Tiikâan thumped Declan on the back. “I’m still recouping from that bear trying to make me dinner.”

Declan put Tiikâan down, his eyes wide with concern. “I didn’t hurt you more, did I?”

“Nah.” Tiikâan rubbed his side, then rotated his shoulder, the stitches in his arm pulling.

He was fortunate walking away from a bear encounter with only four cracked ribs, twenty stitches, and some gnarly bruising.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t think about you almost becoming bear bait.” Declan’s concerned expression turned back to excitement. “I’m just so stinking excited to have you rooming in the Barrow Bachelor Bunk for the summer.”

That was Declan, the Big Friendly Giant. He was everyone’s friend, and not just on the surface. He didn’t care if you were the jock, the punk rocker, or the loner. If you got within his long reach, you were caught. It’s what made him such a great teacher and football coach.

“You don’t really call your place that, do you?” Tiikâan shook his head in amusement.

“Not when it’s just me. Sounds kind of pathetic then.” Declan clapped his hands and rubbed them together. “But now that there’s two fully eligible and sexy guys? Absolutely.”

Tiikâan rolled his eyes.

Declan grabbed the McDonald’s bag and lifted it in a salute. “Thanks for these.”

“No problem. There’re thirty burgers in there.”

“No pickles or condiments, right?”

“Of course.”

“You’re the best. These babies make the perfect freezer snack. Pop them in the microwave, and it’s almost like freshly made. But the pickles and ketchup would ruin them.”

“Only in Alaska would people freeze McDonald’s burgers.”

“Only in Alaska, baby!” Declan banged his hand on the top of the car. “Get in, and I’ll give you a tour.”

Tiikâan threw his pack in the back and folded himself into the passenger seat. The interior was surprisinglyclean given the condition of the outside. It still was way too small for someone as tall as Declan. Shoot. Tiikâan was only five-ten, and he felt cramped.

“What’s with the Barney mobile?” Tiikâan set the seat as far back as it could go, which only gave him three more inches. “Figured you’d have something bigger to haul all your kids in.”

Not wanting anyone to be left out, Declan often became an unofficial taxi for any of his students who needed a ride.

“I do.” He ran his hand along the dash that was a shade darker than the purple paint. “This beaut is yours for however long you need her.”

He gave Tiikâan a wicked smile.

“Seriously?”

“It’s all I got at the moment.” His laugh filled the cab. “Your brothers are gonna flip.”

Tiikâan scanned the car in a new light. A crystal unicorn was superglued to the dash. Fake gemstones lined the rungs of the steering wheel. The seat covers had cartoon unicorns in various colors flying through rainbows and pink clouds. It was hideous.

“Seriously, man?” Tiikâan asked again, praying Declan was joking.

As the only Turo operator in town, Declan’s options were thin, but he had to have something better than this monstrosity.

“I wish I could say that I’m giving you this on purpose, but it’s all I’ve got left.” Declan winked at Tiikâan. “Don’t worry. It’s like a chick magnet.”

“It’s something.” Tiikâan reached for the crystal unicorn on the dash, but Declan slapped his hand away.

“Car’s got to remain as is. Its owner is a junior counselor at a remote camp this summer, and she’d go banshee if you changed anything.”

“I think I could take her. She’s probably, what? Ninety pounds soaking wet?”

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