Josh
Quaid was flat on his back getting Noah to press on his legs. “Harder, Noah. These hamstrings are still aching from my A-class dance moves.”
Their exchange was formal. Nothing to see here, folks. Nothing to see here.
Teagan poured smoothies from a huge pitcher. “C’mon, guys. Get your Eagle Juice.”
“What is this?” Quaid gulped half a glass down without waiting for the answer.
“It is Noah’s mystery recipe,” Teagan said.
Crabcatcher took a tentative sip of his smoothie, breathed a sigh of relief. “This is good, Noah.”
Josh dumped his bag and headed outside to check out the competition. To his surprise, he saw his father. “Dad? I thought you were with Mom and Grandad.”
“They’re finding a good spot to watch from. Your Aunt Karina’s with them, too.”
That explained his father’s annoyed expression. He and Aunt Karina were locked in the same kind of power play he and Ryder were. Always battling to be their father’s chosen one. Josh was sure it hadn’t been fun. Fighting a sibling for parental affection his whole life.
So why had he put Josh under the same pressure? Rowing in the same eight as Ryder. Jockeying to be stroke.
Coach still hadn’t told them who was sitting where today. Crabcatcher obviously knew where he’d be. Baloo and Teagan, too. But the rest of them? They’d have to wait and see.
“Son.” His dad steered him off the path, out of earshot of the parents and rowers heading down to the lake. “I have some hard news. Dad promoted Karina to President of Luxury Travel.”
Wait. What? “I thought that was supposed to be your job?”
Richard Regis had pretty much lived a golden life. Beating his sister at each professional turn. The fact his dad wasn’t completely losing the plot right now was a miracle. His dad flexed his neck like he was feeling the loss physically, then gave Josh a pointed look.
Oh shit. He knew that look. It was the one that meant, Over to you, son.
“I need a win here, Josh,” his dad said. “I spoke with Coach. You’re back in stroke.”
He felt a surge of elation that he knew wouldn’t—couldn’t—peak.
“If you win this race,” continued his father, “we’ll be back on top in Dad’s mind.”
“Right.”
Josh knew he should say something to his dad now. Talk to him the way a son was supposed to be able to talk to his father. Without fear of retribution.
But that’s not how the Regis family worked. The last thing he could say to his dad was that he didn’t want to row because it wasn’t fun anymore.
And if his dad knew what his request meant for him… how life-changing putting his all into this race could be… would he still ask him to do it? Josh was too scared to find out.
“Son? I’m counting on you. Both of our futures, your mother’s as well, they depend on your performance today.”
“Understood.” His dad headed off, leaving his future in the family business in Josh’s hands.
Pretty much the worst place it could possibly be.