Page 131 of Oar Than Friends

‘You wish, sunshine. You bloody wish.’

‘We’ll see.’ He leaned in closer. ‘What station are you picking?’

I tapped my finger against my nose, ‘You’ll find out when I win the toss.’

He laughed, ‘It won’t help you.’

I glanced up to the flag flapping high above us. There was a strong gust in the air today and it was making the water look very choppy. It didn’t mean anything to me though; there were advantages and disadvantages to whichever side of the river you rowed on, and the weather wouldn’t make a difference.

I held in the chuckle as he looked up too. ‘Don’t be so sure about that.’

‘I’m sure. We have your girlfriend, and she’s probably the best coxswain I’ve ever rowed with.’

The banter was over. My fist balled as I tried not to get distracted from the race with thoughts of Kate, which is likely what Will had planned.

Well, mission accomplished.

She’d been wearing her sunglasses when she stepped off the bus, so I hadn’t been able see that beautiful shade of green I’d been dreaming about every night, or tell what she’d been thinking, or whether her heart had stopped like mine had the second I’d looked over and spotted her. But distraction ended there.

I had an hour to go before we crossed the finish line, and once that happened my entire focus would revolve around getting her back.

But I didn’t have the discipline to stop myself asking about her. ‘How’s Kate doing?’

‘Great, the crew will be sad to lose her.’

My eyes flicked to Will’s. ‘Lose her? What does that mean?’

But it was then that the president of the rowing federation decided to make his appearance on the podium with us, and I remembered we weren’t alone. No. We were standing in front of the live camera feed of the BBC, and the long camera lenses belonging to the world’s sports press who’d been given a front row seat.

‘Sorry for the delay, chaps.’ He positioned himself between us and smiled ahead, for our official Presidents’ photo, clapping his hands together when it was over. ‘Great, time to choose your stations. Mr Norris, as president of last year’s winning crew, it’s your call on the coin toss.’

The president reached into his pocket, and pulled out the same sovereign coin used every year to decide which side of the river we rowed, and threw it in the air.

‘Tails,’ Will called as it spun in the air, before it landed tails up.

‘Well done, Cambridge.’ The president shook our hands and stepped down off the podium. My mind immediately went back to Kate and I wasn’t paying attention to anything else. ‘Good luck to both of you. Please head back to your boathouses, and let’s have a good race.’

I grabbed Will before he could follow. ‘Norris. What did you mean?’

‘About what?’

‘Kate. Why have you lost her?’

‘Because she’s leaving.’

‘She’s what?!’ I shouted, far too loudly.

‘Presidents? Back to your boathouses,’ called the president again, only to be ignored,again.

Will looked over to where the cameras were still pointed our way, then back at me. ‘Didn’t she tell you?’

‘We broke up.’

His eyes widened in surprise. ‘Shit, I didn’t know that. I’m sorry, mate, when did that happen?’

‘Last month.’ My brows shot up, ‘She didn’t tell you?’

He frowned with one shake of his head. ‘No. Not a word. And the other day I asked her how you were getting on, and she said you were good.’

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