Execution (Off Balance 2)

I wasn't a drinker. I knew any kind of alcohol, even the smallest amount, would affect me, I just didn't think it'd be this much. I clenched my eyes shut and let out a yawn, praying the spinning would stop.

Judging by the darkness of my room, I knew it was the middle of the night, but it felt like I'd only fallen asleep a few minutes ago. I hated when that happened. I blindly reached for my cell phone to check the time, and opened my eyes enough to take a quick glance at the screen.

3:42 a.m.

I placed my phone back down and turned over as a ball of fire steamrolled through my abdomen. My muscles cramped and I gritted my teeth as I groaned and curled into a fetal position. Naturally, the side effects of the morning after pill would strike while hungover. I let out a painful whimper, wishing away the ache. The cramping intensified and I held my breath, hoping it would quickly pass. I really hated this and made a promise to myself right then to never ingest that stupid pill again.

"Aid?" Hayden’s sleepy voice came from behind me.

"I didn't mean to wake you." I pulled the blanket to my chin, not wanting him to see me like this.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, my stomach just hurts a little."

Without another word, Hayden rolled over and wrapped an arm around my waist. He scooted behind me and pressed his front to my back, curling into me to fit perfectly. I closed my eyes and sighed. The heat from his bare chest against my back was a comforting balm in my ice-cold bedroom. The security of his arms felt like heaven.

"Go back to sleep, I've got you," he said, and laid a kiss to the back of my head.

I closed my eyes and relaxed in his arms, letting the world fade away…

* * *

"How long do you think you'll be gone for?" Hayden asked as I zipped up my suitcase.

He sat on my bed and watched as I gathered items to take home. A small spasm tore through my belly, stopping me in my tracks. Hayden stood, but I held up a hand to stop him. I hunched over and held on to my stomach while I squinted around the room for the bottle with the orange cap. Spotting it on the floor, I huffed in frustration that I had to deal with the aftereffects again. Thankfully the cramp wasn't as bad as last night, but I knew the worst wasn't over yet.

"I think when the Parkettes meet is over is when I'll be back," I answered him, ignoring the shame in his eyes as I swallowed four pills.

Hayden's brows shot to his hairline. He ran his fingers through his messy bed hair. I loved this look on him.

"You're going to be gone that long?" he asked. "I assumed you'd be back shortly after the new year."

"That was the original plan, but after what happened, I don't want to be the only one left here when everyone is at a meet I should be at too. I think it'll be a good time to clear my head and regain my focus, remember what I came here to do in the first place. You know?"

My heart squeezed at the thought of missing the gymnastics meet, but this time I wouldn't allow any more tears to fall.

I drew in a deep, clean breath and exhaled the bullshit.

This morning when I woke, I decided I wouldn't dwell on the past, or my sticky relationship with Kova. Nothing good could come of it. What's done is done, and nothing could be changed at this point. My plan was to move on and work harder than ever before, no matter how much pain he caused me.

"Think Coach will have a fit?"

I gave him a droll stare and drew an imaginary circle around my face with my index finger. "Does this look like the face of someone who gives a shit?"

Hayden let out a laugh and I shrugged.

"What can he do that he hasn't already done? I'm pretty sure he can't—and won't—do shit if I take my time to come back. I have too much on him." I paused with a pair of yoga pants in my hand. "Speaking of having something on him, what were you guys talking about yesterday?"

"Uh, it was nothing." He looked away for a guilty second and cracked his knuckles. "It was just something he helped me out with in the past. Nothing important."

"Whatever it was, it has to do with the dumb dating rules he enforced."

A dim shadow appeared in his eyes and he looked away. Hayden shifted from foot to foot and tried to crack his knuckles again. Whatever Kova had helped him with was serious, and that made me more curious than ever.

"It's really nothing, Aid. Nothing I want to talk about anyway. A secret I swore I wouldn't tell anyone."

"A secret?" I giggled. I couldn't picture Hayden exchanging secrets with anyone. "Who do you tell secrets with?"