Page 32 of Catch
Ethan nods.
“Ethan Walker. I play for the Cougars.”
He offers his hand to Lin, but my coach ignores it.
“Then you should know better than to interrupt an athlete during practice.”
“Apologies, Mr…?”
“Linwood Ridley.”
“Mr. Ridley, I assure you it won’t happen again,” Ethan replies with a wide smile, one that makes the dimple in his right cheek pop.
The smile that probably gets him whatever he wants.
Lin makes a humming sound and gives Ethan a narrowed look.
“Why don’t I believe you?” Lin mutters as he shakes his head and walks past us.
My teammates follow Lin, but not before I get a few curious looks as they go by. I’m for sure gonna get razzed later.
Ethan steps up to me and my pulse thrums hard. I’d take a step back except I don’t want to fall off the dock—or maybe a dunk in the cold lake is exactly what I need right now.
“He seems like a hard-ass,” Ethan comments.
“Lin’s the best at what he does. And he’s right.”
“Like I said, I thought you were finished.”
“Sure.”
“What’s with the security guys?” Ethan asks as he points over his shoulder.
Only then do I notice campus security staked out at the sheds. There’s also a police vehicle on site.
“We had a break-in last night at the boatsheds,” I explain. “Our eight-man shell wasn’t damaged, but a couple of life vests and other equipment are missing. Nothing major, it’s just a mess.”
“Video surveillance?”
“I assume so, but I’m not sure,” I reply and cross my arms. “Back to my original question. What are you doing here, Ethan?”
“It’s about NCAC. I’ve looked over the schedule and itseems you and I will be heading up the Welcome Day games. We need to come up with a plan to break the ice and get the competitive juices flowing.”
That sounds legit, and I have no reasonnotto believe him. And yet…
“And you couldn’t have said all that in a text? Like the many you’ve sent me all week?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Is that your favorite word?”
“I’m a science major; I need to know all the answers.”
Ethan licks his lips, and my gaze tracks the movement before I can help myself.
“I work better face-to-face,” Ethan explains.
