Page 110 of Oar Than Friends

‘You don’t … always … have to come over … when I’m crying.’ She sobbed through each word.

‘It’s only the second time,’ I smoothed my hands over her hair, ‘and when you call me and you’re crying I’mcoming over. I haven’t seen you in five days as it is, and I’ve missed you.’

The sobs got louder, so I wasn’t sure if that had been the wrong or right thing to say.

‘Now are you going to tell me, or do I have to guess?’

She moved back from my chest, though didn’t shift off my lap entirely, and I used the sleeve of my sweater to wipe her tear-stained face.

‘I had to go and see Coach Westcott today, you know, the men’s coach?’ She hiccupped. I glanced around until I spied a glass of water on her desk and reached for it.

‘Yes, I know him,’ I nodded, while she took a sip.

‘Coach Stephens was there with both the coxing coaches.’

‘Okay …’ I wasn’t quite sure where this was going, but it was either that she hadn’t made the Boat Race crew – which is what she’d been thinking anyway – or she had. But neither of those options seemed like it would garner this waterfall level of tears. ‘What did they want?’

‘They’ve … they’ve …’ hiccup ‘… named me cox …’ hiccup ‘… of Blue …’ hiccup ‘… Boat.’

Another wail of tears barrelled up from inside her and she heaved them out while I was trying to understand what exactly there was to be sad about, because these were definitely sad tears. I was positive.

‘You’ve been made cox for Blue Boat?’

She nodded with a loud sniff, and a long swipe of her sleeve under her nose.

‘Wow. Yankee, baby. That’s incredible, congratu-fucking-lations. I’m so fucking proud of you!’ The kiss I planted on her cheek was loud and I came away with thetaste of salt on my lips, ‘Holy shit, that’s fantastic. Babe, why are you upset about it?’

The hiccups continued, ‘Because I … don’t want … to race against you.’

‘Why would you be racing against …’ I frowned, and then her words sank in, ‘wait, you’re coxing the men’s Blue Boat? Is that what you’re saying?’

She nodded, and dissolved into another fit of tears.

Blue Boat. Holy shit. That was huge, and a massive honour.

I knew she was good, better than good, I’d seen it that day on the river. But, Blue Boat; it wastheboat. It was everything. However, I still couldn’t see what would warrant this much crying, and if she continued any longer she’d need electrolytes to stop her getting dehydrated.

‘Babe, take a breath,’ I kissed her temple, resting my lips there until I felt her pulse slowing, ‘tell me what happened.’

‘There wasn’t anyone else suitable for the men’s and the coaches have been impressed with me. I have to do a week of training with the boys, but they already named me in tonight’s meeting, so I don’t think I have a choice.’

‘Why would you want a choice? This is huge.’

‘I know!’ she almost shouted, sniffing hard again. ‘What if I fuck up?’

‘Why would you fuck up?’ I asked, but she only sniffed her response. ‘They’re not going to have given this to you if they thought you’d fuck up. It’s too important. If they’ve given it to you it’s because they think you’re the best chance at winning. Westcott’s an amazing coach, he knows what he’s talking about.’

She dropped her head, while mumbling something I didn’t catch, and I tilted her chin back up until she was looking at me.

‘I don’t want to race against you.’

‘Why? It’ll be so fun. And this way one of us will win, so we’ll definitely have a reason to celebrate.’

‘But you’ve told me all about your tactics and what Marshy does to be aggressive …’

‘Katey, babe, it’s fine. It’s better than fine, now I’ll get to see your face when I’m in my seat and it’ll power me forward.’ I grinned, though only fifty per cent of how much I really wanted to grin. I thought the full hundred might tip her over the edge again and she’d only just stopped crying. She wasn’t seeing the funny side of this situation the same way I was. ‘Has something else upset you? There are a lot of tears for something you should be happy about.’

‘There’s something else.’ She took a deep breath, and another big gulp of her water. ‘You know Mary Heston, the women’s president?’

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