Page 157 of Salto

"One routine at a time,” Rove said.

I looked over at him.

"Easy for you to say.”

He ignored my salty reply. "You've got one job today, Red."

I lifted an eyebrow.

"Gymnastics." He held my gaze for another second before giving a single nod. "And breathing."

I nodded, my jaw clenching.

“I’ll do my best.”

And I would. But the question remained.

Would it be enough?

Beam was first. Which sucked.

Of all the events to start on, I'd landed on the one that required the most mental focus when I barely had any left to give. And whatever happened up there would set the tone for the rest of the competition.

But when I went to compete, I didn't wobble once.

By some miracle, I stuck the entire routine. Only the slightest flicker of pain shot through my back on the landing and then I was saluting the judges. A familiar feeling of relief and satisfaction crashing over me.

Whoa. I’d almost forgotten what that felt like.

My teammates met me with high-fives as I stepped off the podium. Lexi pulled me into a quick hug. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Vanta giving a small nod of approval when my score came up. Rove was smiling.

Well...

Maybe I could actually do this.

Not even ten minutes later, we rotated to floor.

I was second on floor, so there wasn't much time to sit in my thoughts. The adrenaline was taking over, and time felt like it was on double speed.

Before I knew it, I was walking out onto the floor, and my music was starting.

I think because I'd spent a few weeks being unable to do my routines full out, something inside of me just—bloomed.

I felt like I'd been let out of a cage and I was free to fly as high as I wanted.

And that's what I did. I danced and tumbled across the floor with everything in me. The adrenaline and the crowd had me forgetting all about the body I was in. I was another person out there.

Ending my floor routine, I heard the crowd erupt, and I jogged off the floor. Rove was the first person I saw, and without thinking I went in for the hug.

His arms wrapped around my waist with zero hesitation, and mine fell around his neck.

From the sidelines, it would look like a quick congratulatory hug between coach and athlete.

It was the first time I'd ever hugged him.

The smell of mint and clean laundry invaded my senses, and I cherished it for the brief second I was allowed to.

“There she is,” he said against my ear just before releasing me.