Coach Daniels started calling out names for the next group. “Orion Mercer.”
“That’s me.” I turned to Xander, and we shook hands. “Let’s give ’em hell, mate.”
We got into a shell with Rhett, Tucker, Kai Thornton, Henry Moore, Knox Whitman, Justin Wu, and Dean Yearwood as coxswain. We were the best of the lot by far, and I would’ve bet a king’s ransom this was going to be the final team.
Back on dry land, Xander caught some shit for likely stealing Brent’s bow seat right out from under him.
“Don’t worry, Brent,” Tucker said. “Your position is safe. Ford won’t be able to afford the race goggles, never mind the uniform.”
“Ease off, yeah?” I said. “Let’s have some fun tonight and not worry about the roster.”
One benefit to my popularity was it acted as buffer between the guys when they got too rough with the Benders.
That night, I met Tucker, Emery, and the gang at Cassidy’s, a burger joint on the north side of Castle Hill, near the Bend. We took a booth big enough for all of us, but Elowen squashed herself up against me, tits flush with the shoulder of my black Armani bomber jacket.
The talk turned to the upcoming Halloween festival up at Bennington Farm—the second-biggest social event of the year with music, a costume contest, and prizes.
“Everyone got their costumes?” Elowen asked. Under the table, she trailed a finger along my thigh. “You’d make a fantastic Alfie.”
I gritted my teeth and roughly brushed her hand away. Too rough.I had to make up for it. “What’s that, love?”
As predicted, her eyes lit up at “love.”
“From the showEmily in Paris?You’d make a fantastic Alfie.”
“Never seen it,” I said, knowing where this was going. She was one breath away from suggesting she go as Emily. Best Couple’s Costume at the Halloween festival was a coveted prize, but the last thing I wanted was to get roped into a pairing.
“And I already have a costume,” I said, pushing aside thoughts of chemistry partners who barely tolerated me. “I’m going as Mr. Universe, and this”—I gestured at myself—“is my costume.”
Elowen giggled and gave me a playful shove. The conversation moved on to Tucker’s and Emery’s costumes. They were going as Ken and Barbie and probablywouldwin Best Couple, though Emery looked slightly green.
She looks like how I feel when Callister asks me to read aloud in class.
Gideon asked about crew tryouts, and Tucker’s and Rhett’s expressions darkened.
“Coach is going to shit-can one of our guys and replace him with a Bender,” Tucker said. “The new guy, Xander Ford.”
The waitress arrived, setting down milkshakes and sodas.
“Thank yousomuch,” Rhett said, his smile oily. When she was gone, the smile vanished. “I bet that’s Ford’s mom.”
“Probably,” Tucker agreed. “We should make sure to tip her extra. If he makes the crew, he’ll need the cash.”
“Bloody hell,” I said. “You’re monsters, the lot of you.”
“Or maybe we shouldn’t tip her,” Tucker said. “It’ll keep her son from stealing Brent’s seat.”
“I humbly dissent,” I said, keeping my smile bright, like a politician. “As two seat, I can tell you Ford is loads better than Brent. He’s stable and smart. I could feel the difference having him at my back.”
“Traitor,” Rhett said. “I’m going to tell Brent you said that.”
“The fuck do I care?” I said. “Do you want to win or do you wantto defend your boyfriend?”
I clocked Gideon’s immediate flinch, and something inside me recoiled with shame. Rhett laughed and tossed a packet of salt at me. I deflected it back with a grin, marveling at how easy it was to be as much of an arsehole as Tucker and Rhett. To be who they liked me to be.
As a kid, I once read a book about doppelgängers, creatures that could change appearance to blend in with their surroundings.
I could go the festival as one of those, I thought.I wouldn’t need a costume at all.
