Page 49 of Oar Than Friends

She closed her eyes in frustration and let out a deep breath.

‘Kate, you’re on the women’s crew, so we’re not direct competitors. But even if we were I couldn’t give a shit. I like you, I like you a lot. And I’ve liked you since the first night we met. I’ve thought about you every day after that. What’s more, I know you like me.’

Deep ridges appeared between her eyebrows. ‘That’s mighty arrogant of you.’

‘It’s not arrogance if it’s the truth. Tell me it’s not true …’

I waited. And waited. But just like me she didn’t lie.

‘See, you like me.’ I leaned in, expecting her to step back but she stayed in place, bin bag in one hand, claw grip in the other. I was so close I could smell the soap she used, clean and fresh like warm laundry. ‘I want to go back to the week before you decided I was your enemy, before you thought I was someone I’m not. Please, Kate. I want us to get to know each other. I want to continue what we started.’

This time when she looked at me the anger had gone, and there was a warmth which hadn’t been present before, so I tried for one more push.

‘I promise, unless it’s to do with rowing, anything you’ve heard about me is not true,’ I repeated, hoping it would sink in further, ‘and for the first time, maybe ever, I’ve met someone I can totally be myself with. Please don’t let other people ruin what we found that night. If you really don’t want to see where this could lead then tellme, and I’ll respect that, but if you’re basing your decision on lies someone’s told you, then don’t you owe it to yourself to find the truth?’

‘Oz, we have a lot going on. I barely have time to sleep let alone date long distance. Not to mention, I’m trying to make friends with people who …’ she looked away, trailing off.

‘Hate me?’

‘They don’t like you,’ she corrected with unnecessary diplomacy.

‘Kate, I couldn’t give a single fuck about what other people think. I only care about what you think. Please. Get to know me better before you decide you’re not going to fall in love with me,’ I added with a wink which made her eyes roll again.

It might have been hours, it might have been seconds; all I knew was that it felt like the longest stretch of silence in my life while I waited for her to respond.

‘Okay,’ she replied, quietly, ‘we can get to know each other.’

My heart bashed against my sternum while I triple checked I’d heard what I thought I’d heard. ‘Really?’

‘Yes,’ she nodded, her cheeks pinking slightly as her dimples made an appearance, ‘but can we keep it to ourselves? I don’t want to get kicked off the crew and lose my scholarship.’

‘You won’t get kicked off the crew, but yes we can keep it our secret. However …’ I looked behind me to where Joshi was standing by a pile of black bags, then back at Kate, ‘if we weren’t in public I’d kiss you right now, just so you know.’

Her cheeks glowed pink as she bit down on her lower lip; I could see she was about to say something but stopped herself.

‘What? What were you going to say?’

Her bashful smile hit me right in the chest. ‘That if we weren’t in public, I might let you.’

10. Kate

(London calling)

‘Hands on the boat.’

The eight rowers in front of me followed my instruction.

‘Up to waist. Ready … Up.’

The shell was hoisted out of the water in one seamless movement. Once they were settled with the weight, the eight of them followed my next order to lift it above their heads and turn in sync, walking the boat back into the Crabtree boathouse – the Cambridge base for Tideway training.

I followed behind, shouting my instructions to the crew until the boat was safely laid on its pipes ready for the next time we took it out.

‘Nice work today, ladies. Thanks for taking me through my first time,’ I called to them all, while packing up my coxbox and microphone headset.

Imogen grinned at me from the bench she’d collapsed down on, cheeks red from the exertion of the morning session and the cold air. ‘All you, Asters. We took ten seconds off our time to Hammersmith Bridge, and we beat Blue Boat. Nice work. Even more impressive considering we spent yesterday here cleaning up.’

‘Tell me about it.’

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