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I nodd
ed and applied powder to my feet and hands, then to my inner thighs. I stood to the side, letting the judges know I was ready. When they gave me the green light, I saluted first then stepped onto the memory foam mat and walked up to the balance beam and faced it.
Exhaling a calm breath, my hands hovered over the four-inch piece of wood and shook a little. Clearing my mind of everything except this moment and what I was about to try and attain, I mellowed my soul and mounted the beam.
I finished eighty seconds later, both feet stuck together with a small hop that would cost me. But I felt good. Really, really good that as I walked off the podium, I went straight into Kova's arms.
We broke apart and walked toward my chair. I was breathing heavier than normal and my chest was a little tight. I rubbed the ache, thankful the pain in my back from the kidney infection had reduced to a dull throb.
"I wobbled on my turns."
"You still finished with an unparalleled amount of ease."
I glanced up at him. "I had two balance checks, Coach…"
"Everyone does," he said. "Just little things we will work on before Worlds."
Worlds.
I nodded and took a few sips of water then dropped the bottle back into my bag. I stood up and adjusted the sleeves of my all black leotard that had an enormous amount of peridot rhinestones. It'd been my favorite to wear to date, and the colors were finally a good match for my auburn hair.
My knee bobbed.
"What's taking so long?" I said just for him to hear.
I took a deep breath again to regain my poise, hoping I would catch my breath too. Kova glanced at me, his brows bunched together, but I averted my gaze quickly and acted normal. I had a gut feeling the wobble would knock me down to second place. Or maybe the hop would. Or something they saw that I didn't feel. Maybe it was all three.
"Patience is a virtue."
I scoffed. "I hate that saying."
"Does not matter that you slipped up. You still had the highest amount of difficulty in your—"
I looked up to see what had interrupted him and followed his gaze. Chills wracked down my arms.
My score posted.
The only deduction I received had to be for the balance checks because my score wasn't far from the max. In fact, it was almost too good to be true for an event that was considered my weakest.
I stood in disbelief. Kova, on the other hand, was losing it.
He turned toward me and grabbed my shoulders. "You do not give yourself enough credit," he said, his voice much higher than usual. I gazed into his lively eyes. "Well, say something!"
"I… I'm speechless." I really was. "How the hell did I pull that off?"
Kova let out a loud good-natured laugh. "I knew you could do it! When you place your focus properly, you dig deep to do whatever it takes to get you there. I see it every time when you compete." He pulled me in for a bear hug. "I am so damn proud of you," he said then pulled back and grabbed my shoulders again and gave me a little shake.
A bashful smile splayed across my face. It wasn't over, but I could breathe a little easier knowing I only had floor left.
"Give yourself a pat on the back."
I literally patted my shoulder, and Kova smiled at me with more pride in his eyes than I'd ever seen before.
I was going to rock my floor routine.
Sixteen
"How does it feel to come in first place?" Dad asked, his voice full of cheer.
