Page 94 of Crew Girl

The news sent Teagan rocketing off her erg straight into cheerleader mode. This was huge. Mega. A scout from the Junior National team could change these guys’ lives if they saw in them what she did. That they could achieve more. Push harder. Do better. If only they knew how much people believed in them.

She knew her coxing and training sessions weren’t the only reason the guys had improved so much, but as she met each of their hands for a well-deserved high five, the sting of contact felt like a silent thank-you.

“Teagan?” Coach silenced the guys.

“Yup?”

“There’s a girls’ competition as well. You’re going to be in it.”

“No way!” she exclaimed.

Coach wasn’t celebrating like the rest of them, but she could tell he was proud. Quietly confident. At least he wasn’t trying to manifest aura points. That had been beyond weird.

When Coach put their times up on the leaderboard, the good vibes pretty much evaporated. Josh tried to give Ryder a compliment about his score—a personal best. Ryder took it the wrong way, or maybe everything out of Josh’s mouth sounded like a taunt to him. Either way, he wasn’t what you’d call gracious. “I guess it’s just Cam I have to beat now,” he said, then strutted off to take a shower.

Josh took the bait, shouting, “Enjoy this moment. It’s not going to last!”

Ryder could really be stupid sometimes. Clearly beating Josh in public was not enough for him.

Not that she cared. If she’d taken note of Josh’s workout, it was because she had to as the team’s cox. It was her job. But outside that? She had as much interest in Josh Regis as she did in watching YouTube videos on crafting mosaics with her mother.

Coach Hayden cut Ryder’s roistering short, handing him a clipboard. Doled out four more to the rest of them. “It’s up to you to fill these out, all right? Do it now, so you don’t forget. And remember, this is an individual competition, but you’re still part of a team. We’re all rooting for each other. It’s a privilege to be invited. Proof you’ve worked hard.” He gave them his no-nonsense stare, like he already knew if there was a way they could screw up this once-in-a-lifetime chance, they would. “Don’t let that hard work go to waste.”

Teagan sat down to fill out her form. There was no way she was going to mess up this opportunity. Not after turning down Gravenhurst.

Josh slid onto a chair next to her. “You were looking pretty good on the erg today.”

“Yup.”

Better than pretty good, thank you very much.

Typical Josh. Thinking he could use the same technique he’d used on Ryder to worm his way back into her good books. She was not one of his pawns anymore. She was Teagan Tao, single sculler. Ice queen.

She felt his eyes stay on her, but he eventually got the hint. Their one-time-only make-out session was covered in permafrost.

“Yeah, I guess I deserve that.” He picked up his pen with a sigh. “How long am I gonna get the cold shoulder?”

She gave him a withering look she’d borrowed from Juliet’s arsenal. “Life is long.”

CAM

“Cam, hold up!” Baloo pushed himself into a run, even though it was obvious he’d used up all his energy at practice. “You’re not trying to dodge me, are you?”

“No! No way.”

He could tell Baloo didn’t believe him. Ever since he’d found out the guy he’d been crushing on had fed him a pack of lies, he fact-checked everything.

“Just trying to get some more cardio in now that we’re going to Norfolk.” Sort of true. He just needed to get back to the shop ASAP. His dad was sprouting new worry lines by the minute.

“Cool,” Baloo said, reassured. “Umm, can I ask you something?”

As long as it isn’t for dating tips. “Sure.”

“I saw the competition list—not just us, everyone who’s going to be there.”

Cam saw what was coming.

“Logan’s going to be there.”