“How long am I in the double?” I asked.
“Until you change my mind.”
“But my times in the single—”
“Your times are excellent. Your judgment needs work.”
I sat back in the chair, frustration warring with understanding. I wanted the single to prove myself and be the best. But if being the best meant I couldn’t lead...
“The double isn’t punishment,” he said. “It’s preparation. Don’t waste it.”
I nodded slowly, even though everything in me wanted to argue.
“Can I go?” I asked.
I stood up, still processing everything.
“Dismissed,” Hale said.
I left his office.
I walked out of the boathouse and headed toward campus, my mind still churning through everything Hale had said.
***
The quad was already filling up with students—some heading to early classes, others grabbing coffee at the cart near the library steps. The morning sun cut through the trees, casting long shadows across the grass.
“Liam!”
Noah was sitting on one of the benches near the path, laptop open on his knees, papers spread out beside him. He looked up as I approached, squinting against the sun.
“Hey.” I dropped onto the bench beside him. “What are you doing out here?”
“Working on my opening statement.” He gestured at the laptop. “Debate’s this weekend. I’m losing my mind.”
“This weekend?” I’d completely forgotten about that because I was wrapped up in my own bullshit.
“Yeah. Annual debate between Riverside and Kingswell. It’s a big deal—packed house, alumni show up, the whole rivalrything.” Noah ran a hand through his hair. “And I’m nowhere near ready. My rebuttals are weak, my research is all over the place. Plus I’m up against this guy Crawford from Kingswell who’s apparently really good.”
“You’ll be fine. You always are.”
“I don’t know, man.” Noah closed his laptop. “It’s not just about winning. It’s about not embarrassing Riverside in front of everyone. You know how it is—they always act like they’re better than us. I don’t want to give them another reason to look down on us.”
I leaned back against the bench. “I totally get it but you’re overthinking it. It’s just Kingswell.”
Noah laughed. “Says the guy who started a brawl this weekend with them.”
“That was instinct. Totally different.”
Noah raised his eyebrows. “Right. Instinct.”
We sat in silence for a moment. A group of girls walked past, one of them glancing at Noah and smiling, but he didn’t notice.
“How was practice?” Noah asked.
“Hale put me in a double with Thompson.”
Noah’s eyebrows shot up. “Wait, what? But you crushed the singles race against Alex.”
