Page 104 of Oar Than Friends

I sighed again and fell back. I knew part of the reason I was giving myself such a hard time was because I desperately wanted to be named cox for Blondie, and if I wasn’t a hundred per cent certain I’d blown my chance, I was ninety-nine.

So not only was I struggling at medicine, I was struggling at rowing too and at this rate I’d go back to the US and have to tell my parents I’d failed at everything. A situation which was unacceptable to me.

‘Come on, cheer up. What did Oz say?’

‘Same as you.’

She nudged me again, ‘He must be smart then. Perhaps I did misjudge him.’

I laughed into the air.

‘I still can’t believe you spent Christmas with him. I’m so jealous.’

‘Why? You were in the Caribbean.’ I turned my head. Her tan had faded from the disgustingly dark golden colour she’d waltzed in wearing when she’d returned, but only slightly. She’d looked so healthy and glowy, I’d have booked a seat on the return flight if I’d had the money.

‘Because it’s Arthur Osbourne-Cloud’s house. My cousins went to a party there once, it’s supposed to be fabulous.’

Sometimes I’d forget what Imogen said because I was too busy listening to her accent and how she pronouncedwords like faaaa-bu-lus. You’d have thought I’d have gotten used to it by now.

‘Yeah, it was awesome. Like something fromDownton Abbeyor whatever shows you guys have. I sent my mom a picture, and she thought it was Buckingham Palace. It wasn’t stuffy though, it felt super cute and cosy.’

‘What was his mother like?’

‘The nicest. I was so nervous to meet her, but she’s a hugger.’

‘God, I’d have been so nervous too.’

I propped myself up on my elbow again. ‘The thing is, my life on the east coast is so far removed from his that to compare would be pointless. Like, you could have fitted my parents’ whole house in the front hallway.’

‘Was his dad there?’

I shook my head, and that was about as much as Imogen was going to get out of me on the subject of Oz’s father. I wasn’t about to add to the gossip train.

‘So you guys are super serious now then?’

I nodded, ‘Yeah, we are.’

‘Fuck,’ she giggled, and soon she couldn’t stop, ‘I can’t believe you’re dating A.O.-C. What are the chances of that happening?’

I shrugged again, joining in with a little giggle because the whole thing was still surreal to me; not the dating Oz part, or that he seemed to be tarred with this celebrity-type status, just the fact that we’d found each other.

‘At least you only have a few more months of hiding, then you won’t need to keep it a secret any longer as both he and Mary Heston will have graduated.’

I nodded, taking a deep breath as I did. ‘Yeah. She’sbeen so intense, did you see her shouting at the Blue Boat crew this morning? I’m kind of glad she’s leaving this summer, then we’ll never have to train under her. She scares the crap out of me.’

‘Totally, she’s just desperate to win, but she wants a clean sweep. She wants Cambridge to take them all.’

‘It’s only because she’s dating Will Norris. She wants to be crowned winner with him.’

‘Ha, yeah! He’s so laid back, I don’t know what he sees in her. Bet she makes him do burpees and crunches before they have sex.’ Imogen dissolved into a fit of giggles, setting me off too.

‘Yeah, or ten press-ups per thrust when he’s on top.’

I missed Imogen’s response as a knock sounded at the door, and I rolled off my bed still giggling.

‘Good afternoon,’ I greeted dramatically, throwing the door open wide but my laughter died with the creak of the door hinges, and Imogen gasped behind me. ‘Mary?’

Mary Heston peered around the door frame to see Imogen now on the floor, surrounded by flash cards. ‘Working hard, I see.’

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