Page 26 of Racing Hearts

I sigh. “I’ll text you tomorrow to remind you of our snacking times.”

“And to think people call you overbearing.”

“Those people should meet my new coach.”

She guffaws before shaking her head. “You know, you could try his method. To see if it works.”

“I can’t afford to experiment right now. I’ve lost days and I have no idea how much longer this is going to go on. I’m considering quitting the whole thing.”

“Quitting what whole thing?”

I wrap my hands around my triceps as though it will do something to dispel the deep chill. “Training with Adrian. Or not training with Adrian, as the case may be. The kids are more of a distraction than a pacing help, anyway, so I might as well get on the water alone. I can talk to the boathouse’s equipment manager to get a permanent loaner shell and then make my own program.”

Sofi’s eyes drag between me and something off-screen. “You sure that’s a good idea? Wouldn’t you want to talk it over with Carla first?”

I open my mouth to retort something very acerbic and convincing about how I shouldn’t have to loop Carla into my plans when she’s cut me out of all of hers, but Sofi grimaces. My stomach sinks.

“She’s listening, isn’t she?” I ask.

Sofi nods.

I lean back and instantly regret the way the cold water sends another shiver up my spine.

From the background a voice bites out, “Let me talk to Kath.”

Nine

“I can’t do this anymore,” I say, grinding the words out with more confidence than I feel given the intensity of Carla’s frown now filling my screen. “No amount of hypothetical coaching is worth this.”

Carla doesn’t respond. Instead, I think she must drop the phone and start walking because she disappears, and the screen bounces erratically as the background, with Sofi in it, recedes from view.

“Coach!” I hear my friend shout. “You have my phone.”

“I’ll be back in a minute,” Carla says without slowing. “I need to talk to Kath alone.”

I shiver as I wait, willing the final minutes to tick away on my apple-shaped timer. Through the screen, I catch a glimpse of dark gray carpet and the metal legs of Carla’s desk. A door clicks closed. A leather chair creaks.

My coach’s face reemerges on the screen, but she’s now framed by a black leather chair and the massive set of Olympic rings on her wall.

“I was going to call you later today about this, but if you’re going to broadcast your intention to quit in front of Sofia and half the team, we might as well talk now.” Carla leans her elbows on her desk and eyes me heavily. “The board voted to move Adrian forward in the hiring process this morning, but it’s a bit of a complicated situation.”

“Complicated how?”

“He’d be an unconventional hire for this particular job.” Carla sounds like she’s choosing her words carefully. “He’s never coached above high school, although I have it on good authority that he’s turned down three varsity jobs, so it’s not for lack of opportunity. Also, I like him for the job. Still…some are concerned that he’s too risky of a pick.”

“Okay,” I say, “what does this have to do with me?”

“You can’t quit on him. You have to train with Adrian.”

“Because…he might be a junior national team coach someday?”

Carla blows out a breath. “No, so you can provide an independent review of his performance. You’ve had elite coaching in multiple age categories. You could tell us more about his style and whether or not he has what it’ll take. And, despite all the hiccups lately, you still have a reputation as a straight shooter, so the board will listen.”

Blessedly, at that moment, my apple timer screams. I shoot out of the bathtub and spring onto the mat, wrapping my pink, raw skin in one of my mom’s fluffy robes. The moment gives me a reprieve to collect myself and consider exactly how I’m going to turn down Carla’s request without aggravating her.

“Coach,” I say into the phone, trying to be as professional as possible given that I’m dripping on a bath mat. “His coaching style doesn’t work at all for me. I appreciate that USRowing has hiring needs, but I have to think about myself, here.”

“Kath.” She says my name like it’s made of a sigh. “I am thinking about you. You might not be able to see it, but forcing yourself to change up your routine is exactly what you need to improve for Pan Ams.”