Wild Tendy (IceCats 2)

The walk across the parking lot to GymMasters is short. My mind is flooded with things I need to do in the morning, but I try to push that aside when I enter the gym. It’s a huge, state-of-the-art facility that brings in a lot of business. Callie has been coming here since she was two. She loves it, it’s a wonderful outlet for her, and we’re thankful for everyone here. When things got rough, they helped and still allowed Callie to come and work with the team, even though we don’t have the money to pay for her to compete. She hasn’t competed in four years. I know she misses it, but I just can’t swing it.

Debt is a nasty thing.

I walk down the side, past the recreational section, to the back where the team girls practice. I spot Callie on bars and smile as she does some little twist thingy. The girl is a beast, and it kills me that I can’t afford to let her compete. But she’s very forgiving. She knows I try. Even though I feel like I suck, she doesn’t allow me to tell her that. She’s a damn good kid.

“Aviva.”

At the sound of my name, I turn to see Callie’s coach, Amelia, coming toward me with one baby on her chest and one on her back. To say Amelia Justice is beautiful is an understatement. How she looks that good after having twins is beyond me. She has the prettiest blue eyes too. She’s stunning. She just had the twins a month ago, and I have no clue how she is back in this gym. Yet here she is. The owner is very family-oriented and allows Amelia to bring the babies with her. I smile as I get to the main floor.

“Look at these babies. They’re adorable! Hannah and Carter, right?”

Amelia beams. “Yup. Thank you! Chandler had a game tonight, so they had to come with me. Makes spotting the girls a bit hard when all they want is to be held.”

“I bet. How are you, though?”

“I’m good. Thanks for asking, and thanks for coming in. I know you’re busy.”

“Well, I gotta make sure Callie isn’t in trouble.”

Amelia laughs. “Far from it.” She looks over to where Callie is doing some kind of release to the low bar, and she beams. “She’s amazing.”

I grin. “I like her.”

She meets my gaze. “Listen, I talked to Dominica, and she agrees. Callie needs to compete.”

My shoulders droop. “Amelia, I don’t have the money—”

“We feel she has the potential for a scholarship for college. She’s damn good and so smart. She’s a perfect candidate.”

“I know, but I can’t afford it. I’m still paying so many medical bills and trying to keep the shop afloat—”

“I know,” she says, cutting me off once more. “Which is why we want to pay for it. Almost like a scholarship from us.”

“To get a scholarship? How does that make sense?”

She smiles. “It makes us look good. It brings in business ’cause everyone wants their kids to be college-bound gymnasts. Most kids won’t make it, but Callie could.”

I swallow hard as I watch her do a double layout dismount, landing it with perfection. “I don’t know. I hate handouts.”

“It isn’t a handout, I promise. We want her to succeed.”

My pride won’t let me. “Let me try to swing it. Can you get me the monthly dues?”

She pulls in her brows. “Yes. Let me ask Dominica to get it to you.”

“Thank you.”

Just then, Callie comes to me as she takes off her grips. “You say no?”

I give her a dark look. “Actually, I said yes.”

She squeals before wrapping her arms around me and kissing me hard on the cheek. “I thought you wouldn’t do it. You don’t like handouts.”

“No, I don’t. But I’m gonna try to swing it.”

She cocks her head as she backs away. “Can we afford it?”

I nod. “I’ll figure it out.”

She looks between Amelia and me. “Okay.”

I can tell by her voice she isn’t convinced, and to be honest, I’m not surprised. I’m not even convinced I can make this work, but I really don’t want the gym doing anything more than they already have for Callie. After she puts away her gear and gets dressed, we head back to the shop. When we lost our house on the beach, I had no choice but to upgrade the apartment over the shop so it was livable for us. I’m still paying that off, along with everything else.

I wrap my arm around Callie’s shoulders and kiss her forehead. “I’m proud of you.”

“Thanks,” she gushes, leaning into me. “I’m excited. I really want to compete again. I could get a scholarship to pay for school. That would be awesome, and you wouldn’t have to worry about me.”

I scoff. “I’ll always worry about you, Cal.”