Page 47 of One Last Chance

“Thanks, Parker.”

She grinned at him. “I loved the last episode of your show.”

“Oh?”

“The one with you rescuing Oaken Fox out of the river?”

“It’s not my show.”

She shrugged.

Oh brother.

“Tell your dad thanks for his help today,” Moose said, and held the door open for Axel.

He stepped outside.

“She has a crush on you,” Moose said.

“She’s seventeen.”

Moose grinned. “If this bird lady doesn’t work out, you wait a few years and?—”

“Get away from me, you creep.” Axel walked down to the truck.

Moose caught up. “Now what?”

“Now I go home and get my bike.”

“Here we go?—”

Axel rounded on him. Held up his hand. “Moose. You did enough. I’ve got this.”

His brother had been joking—Axel knew that—but as he took a breath, his expression grew solemn. A moment passed between them.

“Sorry,” Axel said quietly.

“For what?”

“For . . . nearly dying.”

Moose’s shoulders rose and fell, and he nodded, looked away.

Another beat. Then, “If you do that ever again, I’m going to have to kill you.” He smiled, mouth closed, a little danger in his eyes, and headed toward the truck, parked in front of the store.

Well, that was settled, then.

But wow, Axel hadn’t realized his brother cared so much.Huh.

He got into the back, and Moose got into the driver’s side. His mother slid into the front passenger seat, glanced back at Axel. “I’ll bet you’re tired.”

“I have a little errand to run. I’ll be home by dinner.”

She eyed him but nodded.

His dual sport dirt bike sat under a tarp in the big garage his dad had built for their motor home and other northern equipment, including the plow, a tractor, four-wheelers, and snowmobiles. He pulled off the tarp and ran a hand over the bike, made for both off-road and highway.

He’d given it a bath after taking it out a month ago, but it still bore scrapes and a couple dents from the off-roading.

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