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“Is that so? Perfect timing, then. Did you happen to get my Christmas gift? I sent a bottle of my favorite vodka to you and that pretty girlfriend of yours.”
Konstantin paused, laughing lightly. “I will have to ask Katja when I get home. Her appetite for vodka is just as voracious as mine. I hope she did not drink it all without me.” He chuckled, as did my dad. “Thank you in advance. That was very kind of you.”
“How is Katja doing? Have you guys decided to settle down yet?” Dad asked, swirling his glass tumbler of bourbon. As much as I liked hearing him catch up with his friend, I was anxious for him to get to the point.
“Ah, not yet,” he responded with a deep sigh. “It is not for her lack of trying. All in good time.”
Dad chuckled and my heart started to beat faster over his next set of words. “I have a question for you. Are you still coaching gymnastics?”
“Funny you should ask. I am, and I just happened to buy World Cup from the previous owners about a year ago. I was thinking about expanding it, but I wanted your expertise on whether it is worth it or not.”
“Ah...” Dad’s brows lifted, a sparkle twinkling in his eyes. I knew that look. It was his chance to dabble in something look. “How perfect the timing is, then. Do you recall telling me when my precious daughter was ready to switch to give you a call?”
He paused. Silence filled the air. My heart stopped. “I do.”
“She came to me earlier and wanted to transfer to some gym in New Hampshire. Do you know of any gym over there?”
“Not one worth remembering.”
Dad’s eyes bore into mine. He raised a pointed brow and smirked. “Well, she said it’s one of the best gyms on the East Coast. But I can’t imagine anyone being better than you.”
Konstantin chuckled. “You flatter me
. I had no idea your daughter was still training. Tell me, what level is she.”
I held up two hands to remind him.
“She’s a level ten, but she said her gym doesn’t have an—”
“Elite coach,” I whispered.
“Elite coach, which is what she’s telling me she needs,” Dad said. “Are you elite?” I cringed at my dad’s question. He wouldn’t be elite, he would coach elite.
“I do have an elite program and team of elite girls. How old is she?”
“Fifteen.”
“Hmm. She can’t be just a level ten at fifteen, that’s quite old for an elite. Is she training for college now?”
“To be honest, I’m not sure what she plans to do, or can do. I just know she wants to train at a topnotch gym.”
That hurt my heart, like a knife to the chest. I’d just told him a few hours earlier what my plans for the future were.
“All right.” He cleared his throat. “I have a dinner meeting I need to get to, can I give you a call in the morning and we can go over this?”
“Perfect, sounds like a plan. I look forward to hearing from you. While we’re at it, we can also discuss your expansion idea on your new gym.”
“Even better.”
When Dad hung up the phone, I didn’t feel any better. I frowned. It didn’t sound like a sure thing once he heard my age. I almost wished he hadn’t been on speakerphone.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. There isn’t anything I can’t make happen now.”
Staring out the window, I couldn’t see beyond my transparent reflection as we passed another mile marker. My heart fluttered and a small smile curved my lips thinking about how long I’d waited for this moment. In fact, I couldn’t remember a time I’d been this happy...or impatient, edgy, and restless. I was a wheel of emotions. The knots in my stomach pulled tighter as anxiety swirled through me at breakneck speed.
I took a deep breath and rested against the cold leather seat, praying it wasn’t much farther.
Two months ago, Dad had come through and gotten me into World Cup Academy of Gymnastics, which happened to be one of the top rated gymnastic training centers in Florida. With my heart set on finding the best gym, I had tunnel vision after a teammate had mentioned the one in New Hampshire. It never dawned on me to look anywhere else. From what I gathered, Dad made a generous donation to World Cup, therefore allowing me the opportunity to train at the facility. Being a struggling athlete, I was desperate to reach the next level. I didn’t want to rely on my dad and his business relations, but if it helped get me closer to my dream, then so be it.
