Teagan
Right! She could do this. They could do this. They were a team. Off the water? They were a big hot mess of teenage angst and power moves, but they were almost on the water. So… time to forget about the other stuff.
“Crabby! You’ve got a good glow on. How’s your cardio training been going?”
His grin was triumphant. “Haven’t puked in two weeks!”
“Nice.” It was a barometer. A gross one, but a barometer nonetheless.
“Right, everyone!” Coach Hayden called. “Count us in, Coxie.”
Ten hands piled on top of each other. “Easton on three: One, two…”
“EASTON!”
“Crew?” Hayden instructed. “Go get your boat.”
A few minutes later, Josh was inches away from her in the eight seat. Not so much as a hint of the vibe the two of them had been rocking a few hours ago. He was in the zone. Right where she needed him.
“Good to be back in the saddle?”
He nodded, pure focus. “Let’s do this.”
“Paddle up, boys!”
They started strong, working as a unit. This was good. This was how Easton was making its mark. Strong, solid— What the—
“My oar!” Josh stared at the handle he was holding, then the spot where the rest of his oar should’ve been. “It—it just snapped.”
The race was over.
Five strokes in and they were done.