My heart began to race again as I thanked him, said that I’d be in touch, then turned on my heel to leave. This was good. Lucas Blackwell was an excellent networking choice, one who I had no doubt knew industry people. If he agreed to mentor me, this could just end up being the boot I needed to get me in that door.
If only you saw that, Mads. Socializing and making connections on my first day.
2
~
June
I hadn’t expected to be drenched in sweat by the end of our first rowing practice for the semester. Usually the land sessions were more tolerable, but this year seemed to be a watershed year for everyone.
Coach Hayes did not come to play around.
I was definitely feeling the consequences of solely prioritizing my academics over summer break. But if it was any compensation—amid the stitch in my side, burning lungs and aching joints—I was far from the only team member who’d been less than dedicated.
“Holy shit,” Madison gasped, leaning over with her hands on her knees as she tried and failed to catch her breath. “That woman is trying to kill us.”
I laughed but it sounded more like a wheeze. “This isn’t fun for you?”
“Not my preferred type of cardio, no,” she replied, giving up altogether to sprawl out like a dried-out starfish on the track.
Around us, the rest of our team were either slinking off to the showers or lying on the ground like Mads, probably waiting for feeling to creep back into their limbs.
“Who the hell plans a training circuit on the first day? Like what sadist thinks that’s a good idea?” she continued.
I shrugged, less of an answer and more an attempt to loosen up the stiffness in my upper body. “Someone who wants their team to win the derby, perhaps?”
“Urgh.” Mads rolled her eyes. “I guess that makes you and the Coach two peas in a pod, then. Help me up.”
She raised her arms and flexed her fingers a few times. I grabbed her hands then pulled, managing to hoist her back up on her feet. We walked to the showers together, making small talk about practice and what our plans were for the first weekend of the new semester.
“Some of the others were thinking of going out for dinner on Saturday. Maybe check out that new Thai place off campus. Wanna join?” she asked, her arm brushing against mine.
“You know, I actually would’ve said yes if I didn’t already have plans for that day,” I said.
Madison put a hand to her chest dramatically, closing her eyes as though she was in pain. “June. My dear, sweet, lovely June. I hope you know that studying does not count as having ‘plans’, right? It’s so early in the year, I think you can afford justoneweekend of mindless debauchery. Imagine gorging yourself on Tom Yum Goong or—God forbid—mango sticky rice.”
I laughed. “Your sarcasm’s wasted on this situation. I actually have a coffee date.”
At that, Madison stopped walking and stared at me, a mischievous smile on her lips. “Wait, a coffeedate?”
“Coffeedate,” I emphasized. “So no, not what you’re thinking. It’s just a meeting with my professor. I decided to take your advice and start networking.”
She looked caught between disappointment and pride at me having listened to her and taken the initiative to do somethingmore than just bury my nose in my books. Eventually, the latter seemed to win out. We continued walking.
“Okay, okay. I’m not going to nag at you anymore, and I’m happy that you at least took this step. I just want what’s best for you, you know that right?” she asked.
I nodded. “Yeah. In your own weird way.”
“So this is purely for networking. Not even just making a new friend?” She mulled it over for a second, then shook her head. “Nah, what am I thinking? It’s your professor, the man is probably a fossil. As happy as I am for you, I still think you should’ve considered the mango sticky rice as the better Saturday night option.”
I hesitated, not sure how much I should share with her. If only she knew that Blackwell was anythingbutthe decrepit old man she was obviously picturing. Just thinking about him again sped up my pulse, but I knew that I was being ridiculous. He was a good-looking man. He was also my professor. The line began and ended right there so there was no point in even bringing it up.
But Madison was like a bloodhound when it came to sniffing out details. She tilted her head to the side. “Is there something you’d like to share with the class, Price?”
I cleared my throat. “No.”
“You’re a crappy liar, June. Always have been,” she pointed out.
