She giggled. “I know, but can you blame me?”
I found Orion, second from last at the head of the boat, moving with catlike grace and beauty…
“No,” I told Emery. “I can’t.”
The crowd grew louder as the race got close with the finish line only a few meters away. But our guys pulled as if their lives depended on it while Dean bellowed his commands with an aggression I’d never seen from my friend before.
Emery gripped my arm tighter as the race came down to the finish.
I wasn’t into sports, but I was into Orion. I let the electric hum of energy from the crowd infect me too, and then I was jumping up and down, adding my voice to the crowd, hoping my energy would findhim and give him the extra support he needed.
The boats were neck and neck until ours pulled ahead just as they crossed the finish line.
“They won.” Emery had me by the shoulders. “They won!”
“Yes, I see that.”
But I was laughing too, caught up in it. We joined the crowd running to the crew as their boats were pulled ashore. Every man was exhausted but happy, slumped over and patting each other on the back.
I ran to Dean and threw my arms around his neck. “Congrats!”
“Thank you, thank you,” he said, grinning tiredly. “For the only guy on the shell who didn’t row, I’m surprisingly exhausted.”
His smile tilted, and I watched him meet eyes with Sierra. She smiled shyly and wiggled her fingers at him surreptitiously, before laughing loudly with a group of popular Richies.
“Still a bridge too far?” I asked, my heart aching for him.
“Yep.” He smiled ruefully. “Eh, what can you do?”
I hugged him again. “Hey. I love you.”
“Aw shucks. Love you too, my friend, but why so serious? It’s just a boat race.”
“Nothing. Life. You know how it is.” I shook my head and then watched, shocked, as Emery threw her arms around Xander’s neck and kissed him in front of everybody.
“Well, what do you know,” Dean said. “There’s hope for us Benders yet.”
I searched for Orion in the crowd. He’d always maintained that he never cared what anyone thought about us. Maybe I’d be brave too and throw myself at him, and tell him about NYU and how I didn’t want him to leave…
But when our gazes clashed, he smiled and waved and turned away, celebrating with his team.
“Harper?” Dean said, breaking me from my thoughts.
“Sorry, what?”
“You’re coming to the party tonight, right?”
“I suppose.”
“You don’t sound enthused.”
I smiled grimly. “Let’s just say watching a bunch of people I care about get drunk out of their minds isn’t my favorite thing right now.”
“Orion’s not a big drinker, at least,” Dean said. “And I promise to behave.”
“You’re the best.” I gave another hug and a kiss on the cheek. “Congrats again.”
I got lost in the crowd and headed back to my car. In the driver’s seat, I texted Orion.
