Page 124 of Salto

Finally he responded after what felt like forever.

ROVE: You will.

ME: You can’t be certain of anything.

ROVE: I don't say things unless I believe them.

ME: So basically what you’re saying is if I don’t believe in me, believe in you?

ROVE: If you’re brave enough.

ME: You already know I am.

There was another long pause, and for a moment I wasn't sure he'd reply.

Then my phone pinged.

ROVE: Go to sleep you stubborn little thing.

I shook my head, fighting a smile as I typed back my response.

It was then that the anxiety finally eased. Somehow, he always seemed to know exactly what I needed to hear.

ME: Goodnight.

ROVE: Goodnight.

CHAPTER 43

Sleep had kept the nerves at bay, but the second I woke up, they were waiting for me, and they followed me all the way to the competition floor.

Chalk dust hung in the air, and judges settled into their seats. Dozens of elite athletes filled the arena, and as everyone warmed up, the nervous energy became palpable.

I looked up into the stands and spotted my parents and Jamie. They'd gotten there not long after I did, and seeing them now stirred a myriad of emotions inside me.

College meets had never carried this kind of pressure. But they didn't seem to notice the difference because my mom smiled and waved like she always did, my dad gave me his signature double thumbs-up, and Jamie was just scrolling on her phone like usual.

I smiled back, waved, and then forced myself to look away and not think too hard about them watching me.

Thankfully, Vanta called us into a circle, and everything started moving quickly.

"Alright, bring it in."

As we gathered around the coaches, I looked over at Rove. He stood beside Vanta in a bright white sweatsuit with Vanta Elite running down the sleeve. His arms were crossed over his chest, his hair pulled back into a half ponytail.

His gaze found mine, and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

Then his attention returned to Vanta.

The tiny acknowledgment quieted my nerves.

"We're on floor first," Vanta said, pointing to the lineup on his clipboard. "Then beam, bars, and vault. Warm up quickly, be efficient, and stay focused."

The competition passed in flashes.

This meet felt different from the Elite Qualifier because the whole team was there. It wasn't just me and Rove. I competed with a lot less stress knowing that if, for some reason, I didn't qualify, I wasn't necessarily on the chopping block like I had been last time.

Floor and beam came first, and I scored well enough to stay in the top ten.