"Yeah."
"Seventeen forty-two."
"I heard."
"Alex. That'sfast."
"I know."
"No—that's like—that's fuckingfast." He was fully grinning now, chest still heaving, face flushed, and he looked so alive it hurt. "We just did a 5K at race pace and he said—"
"Charles fast. I was there."
"Say it again."
"No."
"Say it."
"Charles fast." And I was smiling too—couldn't help it, couldn't hold it, my face cracking open in a way that would've been dangerous if anyone was close enough to see. But Hale'slaunch was fifty meters ahead and the nearest boat was still working through their second half.
It was just us. On the water. The one place where we didn't have to pretend.
"We can win this thing," Liam said. Not bragging. Not performing. Just saying it out loud like he was hearing it for the first time and couldn't believe the words were coming out of his mouth. "Like… actually win."
"Don't get ahead of yourself."
"I'm not. I'm getting exactly where I should be." He held my gaze. The grin softened into something else—something underneath, warmer, steadier. "We're good together."
The words landed. Same ones I'd said in the boat weeks ago.We're good together.But this time it was Liam saying them. Liam, who never admitted anything until it was dragged out of him.
"Yeah," I said. "We are."
He turned back around. Squared his shoulders. Picked up his oar.
"Don't tell anyone I smiled," he said.
"Wouldn't dream of it. Your reputation is safe with me."
"Good." A pause. Then, quieter—barely audible over the water lapping against the hull. "That was fun."
We paddled back toward the dock. Easy strokes. Cool-down pace. The mist burning off the river as the sun climbed higher. And for those few minutes—just us and the water and the fading echo ofCharles fast—the walls didn't exist.
I wanted to hold onto that feeling but I wouldn't get too.
***
I was halfway across the Kingswell quad, gym bag over my shoulder, still riding the high from the water, when I heard him behind me.
"Harrington."
Marcus.
I didn't stop. Didn't slow down. Kept walking.
He caught up anyway. Fell into step beside me with that easy stride. I hadn't spoken to him since I'd told him we were done, aside from the few times he tried to talk shit. Weeks of nothing. No texts, no dining hall nods, no pretending at practice.
And now here he was. Walking next to me like the conversation had never happened.
