Teagan
He hadn’t been giving her the silent treatment or anything. Earlier, he’d said “Good morning” and “The Crock-Pot’s in the kitchen if Coach asks where it is,” but that was it. No apology. No heartfelt revelations after a long, dark night of the soul. Nothing.
Like it or not, he wasn’t getting into that boat without clearing the air.
He deposited another box of things from Coach’s truck in the kitchen. When he came back out, she stopped him. “Anything you want to talk about?”
“No.”
“Wow!” She waved invisible pom-poms. “I got a whole word out of you. More communicative than your texts.” They’d never texted.
Not their thing. Apparently joking around wasn’t either.
She took things down a notch. He did not look happy.
“Cam… I know you had a hard time at the dance and I’ve been trying to give you space, but we’ve got to go out there as a team soon. You can talk to me, you know?”
“Yeah.” He glanced at her, went back to rubbing a callus. “I know.”
She peered up at him. “Are we still friends?”
His face tensed. “Of course we are. Thanks.” Then he strode off to the changing room.
Not exactly the best heart-to-heart she’d had, but… it was a tiny step forward.
Perry sidled up to her, bumped shoulders. “Hey, gurrrl,” he said. “You and Cam didn’t come to the after-party and that little exchange I just witnessed was awfully formal. What’s up? Don’t want your budding romance on show for all to see? Trying to keep things profesh?”
Ummm. “No comment.”
“I’ll take that as a yes.” Perry bounced over to Noah, Quaid, and Crabcatcher, whose faces made it clear they were gossiping about her and Cam.
Luckily, Coach Hayden saved the day. And her dignity.
“Okay, crew! Huddle up.”
“Right. This is our last regatta before the Haverford Cup. If we place today, it’ll secure our spot and give us a shot at the podium. First time in ten years, Eagles.”
The team cheered, pumped for the challenge. “You’re feeling good,” Coach said. “And you should be. This race is yours for the taking.”
“Westvale’s toast!” Crabcatcher shouted. “No, wait. They’re past toast. They’re ash, they’re—”
“Tephra!” Noah supplied.
“What’s a tephra?” Quaid asked.
Teagan was kind of glad he had asked. She didn’t know either.
“It’s a material produced by a volcanic eruption,” Noah explained.
Ryder scratched his head. “Isn’t that just lava?”
“Getting off course here, guys,” Teagan said. “Coach?”
“Thank you, Coxie. Now, a hot streak is great, and you’ve definitely been enjoying one, but don’t think about the past today. Your job is today’s race. One clean drive after another? And you attack this thing. Yes?”
“Yes, Coach!”
“And Regis?”
Josh and Ryder said, “Yeah?” simultaneously.
Coach winced. “I meant Josh. I’m putting you in stroke today.”
Ryder muttered something under his breath Teagan couldn’t catch. She could guess, though. He was clearly fuming about Coach’s decision.
“Remember to take it out easy today,” said Coach. “This is another head race. A long haul. Do not try to run it like you’re in a sprint.”
Josh nodded. “Yes, Coach.”
“Don’t let the pressure get to you, Josh.” Ryder looked around at the guys like he was about to drop a good joke. But it sounded more like a flex.
“What pressure?”
“The pressure to win, like we did when I was stroke.”
“Okay, crew!” Coach clapped his hands, cutting things short before it turned into a fight. “I know you’re all tense, that you want to win. But egging one another with negative energy is not acceptable. Call in those aura points, okay? Manifest what works for you… as a team.” Then he walked out.
Teagan dropped the clipboard she’d been holding. “Umm… does anyone know who stole Coach and replaced him with my mother?”
It had been weird, but Coach had a point.
The guys started drifting off. Noah waved his hands, trying to stop them. “Everybody? Just a reminder about the party tonight.” He paused for impact. “It’s going to be both the bee’s knees and the cat’s meow!”
Silence. Poor Noah.
Baloo was texting as he shot out the door. Josh and Ryder had disappeared in separate directions. Quaid was giving Perry a piggyback into the changing room. Cam was digging around in his duffel bag and Crabcatcher, from the sounds of it, was starting a quick erg sesh.
“Thanks, guys,” Noah said to a room that was basically empty now.
“Bzzz bzzz,” said Teagan. It was a lame attempt to get a smile back on Noah’s face, but she had to try. Right? As team cox? “Meow?”
It didn’t work. “I’m going to go get changed,” sighed Noah.
“Good idea.”