Page 104 of Crew Girl

What? Saved his bacon? “You were about to throw away everything you worked for!”

“That was my choice! You shouldn’t have done this. Thrown away your chance to impress the scout.”

“That was my choice to make.”

He charged the wall and punched it, furious. “I told you to stay out of this.”

She was as pissed as he was now. She marched over and met him eye to eye. “You said there are more important things than rowing. You were right. You’re more important.”

The air felt charged. Popping with heat and tension. It was hard to tell if it was fueled by love or rage. Probably both. He moved in closer, like he was going to snarl something right up in her face… or kiss her?

She dipped her eyes, then lifted them to his again, hoping it would be a kiss.

“You need to stay out of my mess,” he snarled, then left the room, taking the oxygen in it with him.

He’d walked out on her twice now. Why couldn’t he see that all she’d been trying to do was show him that she cared?

Juliet was wrong.

Boys weren’t unnecessary.

They should be outlawed.

JOSH

All he had to do was make it to the car. He could do this. His heart was telling him otherwise, making him wish he’d dumped those stupid pills into the lake. It was too late now.

Two more steps. One. Two. See? Victory. Now to open the door.

“You’re a goddam liar!” Josh’s heart took another hit when he saw Baloo charging at him like a hurricane. “You lied to my face.”

“Baloo! What are you talking about?” He knew. Could see it written all over the guy’s face.

“The oar.”

Just like the pills he shouldn’t have taken, the lies he’d told had come back to bite him in the ass. He needed to sit down. He needed air.

“You cut the oar and let Logan take the hit for it.”

He tried to open the car door, but Baloo’s hand shot out to stop him.

No. No. He needed to sit down. His chest felt tight now. Too tight.

“Move,” he said to Baloo. “I’ve got to get in there.”

Baloo didn’t budge.

His brain was starting to feel fuzzy. Air. That would fix it. He’d just breathe in some air.

“You watched me break up with him, Josh. You’re heartless!”

“It’s not what you think. I wanted to tell you.” He had. He really had. If Baloo knew the whole picture, had any idea the pressure he was under—

“Hey!” Teagan ran up. “What’s going on?”

Baloo was staring at Josh so intensely there were probably lasers coming out of his eyes. It would explain why his chest hurt so much.

“Baloo?” Teagan’s voice was gentle, calm. “Come on. Give Josh some space.”