Page 156 of One Last Chance

“Axel. Hey, man.” Oaken took his hand, then pulled him in for a back slap. Let him go. “Turns out you’re the real star of the show.”

Axel frowned.

“What, you don’t know that your interview with Shasta went viral? It skyrocketed the views of the show. Mike’s talking about another season.”

Axel looked at Moose, who raised a hand. “It’s just a conversation.”

“And who’s our victim? An actor? A football player? Maybe a politician?”

Moose raised an eyebrow. “Who pressed your buttons?”

“Sorry.” Axel turned to Oaken. “Good to see you.”

“I’m heading to Moose’s for the weekend. You coming down?”

Axel glanced at Shep, then back. “We’ll see.” Then he smiled and pointed at Oaken. “Can’t wait for the show.”

He left them and walked over to the bonfire. Beyond the fire, the Copper River frothed and rushed in the darkness. A number of the Pathfinders were there, and he waved to Parker. She sat with Laramie, looking back at her phone as they laughed at something.

And for a moment, that night by the river with Flynn came back to him. The way she’d stepped up to him. Kissed him.

The way he’d thought—hoped—it would be forever.

He tugged out his phone. Still off, but he’d managed to charge it half-full while at home. Turning it on, the icon spun, waking it.

A voicemail popped up.

From Flynn.

He drew a breath, then walked away from the bonfire, toward the river walk, a boardwalk that overlooked the river and travelled the rocky shore. It ended in a deck that jutted out over the river.

Not far, actually, from the beach where, once upon a time, he’d nearly drowned, where he’d saved the life of a kid and maybe found his own.

He stood on the river walk and pressed the voicemail.

Drew in a breath at the sound of her voice.

“Hey, it’s me. Um . . . call me before you go camping. I . . . I . . . okay, this is going to sound crazy?—”

“Axel.”

He turned, lowering the phone from his ear, and spotted Wilson walking toward him in the darkness. The man wore a jacket, his hands in his pockets.

Axel pocketed his phone, turned to him, not sure why his chest tightened. “Hey, Wilson.”

Wilson held out his hand. “I wanted to apologize for nearly killing you today.”

Huh?But yeah, okay, the fist in his chest loosened. Axel let out a laugh, mostly relief, and met his hand. “No worries. It was an accident.”

Wilson smiled. Sighed.

“Something on your mind?”

Wilson shrugged. “I don’t know. I just . . . you were the last one with Dillon, and I’m having a hard time with . . . everything. I was hoping you could tell me what exactly happened between you two.” He offered a half smile, sad and wry.

And of course Axel got it. But, “You sure you want to hear it?”

Wilson shrugged. “Maybe we could walk a little?”

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