AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Her head tilted to the side. "I am."
"Oh, ah, okay," I stammered from nerves. "I was just wondering where Kova is. I didn't know he'd be gone."
Madeline studied me. My stomach clenched with anxiety, but I didn't show it. I kept a straight face and didn't look away as if I’d asked a completely innocent question. Her eyes shifted back and forth between mine as if to say, "You already know."
Her lips puckered with false pity. "Don't worry about a thing. I spoke with Kova and I've got it covered. He gave me your schedule until we leave. Go ahead and head to bars now," she said, her lips rolled up firmly. She stepped around me and walked away.
I frowned. I guess we were finished with the conversation.
I hid the slight limp as I walked to bars covered in chalk and my hair a mess at the top of my head. For once, I was looking forward to a blading session. It'd been a while, and they always made me feel brand new…once the aftermath wore off.
I reached the uneven bars and Danilo gestured at me with two fingers. I walked over to him and he reached out for my arm. My hand gently rested on his bicep as his large fingers began kneading my aching muscles. I sighed in relief, my eyes closing.
"Feel better?" he asked.
"Yes," I said, a little breathless. It did.
"I could tell you were in pain."
I looked at him and wondered how he’d figured it out when I knew I’d hidden it well. "It feels numb."
His fingers made their way down the inside of my arm, his eyes inspecting my reaction each place his fingers pressed into me. When he reached the crease of my elbow, I tightened up.
"I will not hurt you," he said. His lack of contractions made me think of Kova.
My lips formed a thin line. I swallowed. Danilo laced his fingers with mine, giving them a good squeeze, then he held my wrist with his other hand and rotated it in slow circles. His hand was warm, and what he was doing felt incredible. He got the blood flowing again. It took away some of the tingling in my arm. Almost like it could breathe again.
"Thank you," I said when he removed his hand and let go. Danilo nodded. "It feels so much better."
"All right," Madeline said, tearing my attention from Danilo. I looked into her eyes, searching for something that indicated she knew what really happened with Kova. Anything. But there was nothing there. The tension in my neck loosened marginally. "We want flat hips, a big cast, and a stuck handstand." She was all business. "Beautiful lines would be a plus. Then we'll move on to the release. Think you can do it?"
A full and a half turn release? No, I couldn’t do it right now.
"Yes, just spot me."
I had no idea how the hell I made it through my first day back at practice. All I wanted was to take a hot bath and crash. But I still had a blading session and physical therapy on my arm.
I sat in the cold locker room stuffing my clothes and leftover lunch into my duffle bag while Madeline spoke to Danilo and Dr. Ethan Hart in the hall. I had a few more minutes to spare before I was supposed to meet them in the therapy room. Madeline planned to go over my schedule, down to when we needed to board the plane.
"He was arrested for assault."
I stopped moving. Though Madeline’s voice was low, I could still hear her. I wasn't trying to eavesdrop, but the gym had cleared out and their voices easily carried down the hall.
"Tak," Danilo said. It sounded like the word was in the back of his throat.
"Just doesn't seem like Kova to fight someone in a bar," Ethan said. He wasn't convinced. "He doesn't go to bars," he said, sounding even more stumped.
Ethan had a point. Kova wasn't a barhopping kind of guy. I don't think he ever went out to dinner, or really did anything for himself. He either was at World Cup, or at home…or with me. My stomach tightened as I held my breath. His life was devoted to gymnastics and those close to him knew that.
I stood up and tiptoed to the door.
"I'm just letting you know what he told me," Madeline said. "He fought in self-defense, but since no one saw the victim hit him first, he was the only one arrested. Things are up in the air as more charges are possibly pending; that’s why he hasn't been released from jail yet. Until then, he asked if we could all come together to help. I think we all can agree Kova isn't the kind of person to ask for help, so when he does, it must be serious."
I clenched my eyes shut.
Kova was still in jail.
Twelve
