Page 25 of False Catch

"No," I agree. "But they're better than zero."

Bo arrives next, alone but checking his phone like he's coordinating with someone. My brain likes patterns, and the patterns between all of us have shifted dramatically since Riverside. Since Reese's heat. Since we stopped pretending we're just nine random people who row together.

"Y'all ready for this?" Bo asks, his Southern drawl thicker when he's stressed.

"Does it matter?" Cameron responds from his spot on the dock.

Gray shows up at five forty-eight, precisely two minutes before our agreed time because he likes to be punctual but not eagerly early. He's wearing his lucky workout shirt, the one with the tiny hole near the hem that he thinks no one notices. I notice everything, but mentioning it would be weird.

"Where's Reese?" he asks immediately.

"Not here yet," I report. "Neither are Eli, Beckett, or Zane."

Gray's jaw tightens. He's been on edge since Sunday, but it got worse yesterday after finding out about Quinton being Reese's project partner. There's something there, some history that goes beyond normal prep school rivalry. But Gray's not talking about it and I'm not great at reading between lines unless the lines are very clearly marked.

Zane literally bounces up at five fifty-one, because of course he does. "Morning, morning! Beautiful day to fool the administration into thinking we're normal!"

"We are normal," Gray says flatly.

"Right. Super normal. Just eight Alpha rowers who can't function unless our Omega cox—"

"Beta," Gray cuts him off sharply. "She's Beta as far as anyone knows."

"Sure, sure." Zane's grin doesn't falter. "My bad."

Jackson and Eli arrive together at five fifty-three, walking close but not touching. That's normal for them - they've had their thing for years, though Jackson would rather die than talk about it. Jackson looks more tense than usual, which is saying something.

Beckett shows up right after them, yawning dramatically. "Why are we awake? The sun isn't even properly up yet."

"Because our futures depend on it," Eli says dryly.

"Right. That."

Reese arrives last at five fifty-five, and the second she's within scent range, everything shifts. All eight of us turn toward her like sunflowers finding light. It's embarrassing how obvious we are, but at least Carmine isn't here to see it yet.

"Morning," she says, and her voice does something to my chest that I don't fully understand. It's not sexual exactly, but it's... something. Like when a equation finally balances or when the boat hits perfect swing. Satisfaction maybe? Completeness?

"You good?" Bo asks her quietly.

"I'm fine." She's not. I can see it in the tension around her eyes, the way she's holding her shoulders. But she's trying, which is what matters.

"Alright, let's warm up," Gray orders. "Carmine will be here soon and—"

"Actually, she's already here."

We all turn to see Assistant Director Carmine walking down from the parking lot. She's got a tablet, a coffee, and an expression that suggests she'd rather be anywhere else at six AM on a Saturday.

"Morning, gentlemen," she greets us formally. "Ms. Callahan. I trust you're ready for practice?"

"Yes, ma'am," Reese answers for all of us.

"Excellent." She makes a note on her tablet. "I'll be observing from the launch with Coach Bennett. Let's see what makes Sable Ridge Crew so special."

We start heading toward the boathouse when Zane stops short. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me."

I follow his gaze to see the lacrosse team running drills on the path that circles the lake. Shirtless, because of course they are, even though it's barely sixty degrees. And right in the middle of the pack, keeping pace with easy strides, is Quinton Whitmore III.

I’m not attracted to guys in the least as far as I know, but even I can admit Quinton is abnormally good-looking. The kind of guy who works obsessively on his v-cut just to make sure he’s always the center of attention no matter what environment he’s in. I wonder if that’s the kind of guy Reese is interested in? I mean, rowers at our level are generally in peak physical condition too but–