Execution (Off Balance 2)

I received high fives and smiles from all the girls.

"Gotta give it to you, Red, that was pretty incredible," Reagan said. My heart raced as I caught my breath. The amount of adrenaline pumping through my veins gave me a high like I could take on anything. I couldn't stop smiling. I felt like I was six-foot-three in a five foot, ninety pound body.

Madeline rushed me, pulling me into a hug so tight I could barely breathe. She pulled back and gripped my shoulders and shook me with excitement. "Well done! It couldn't have been any better! Girl, you keep on impressing me. What a way to start the competition. You're a true performer," she said. "How are you—" She started but my score flashed. We both glanced up at the same time and read the numbers.

My heart dropped.

Chills broke out on my arms.

Silence surrounded me.

I stared at the numbers, not believing what I saw. Madeline mumbled as we gawked side by side. She was just as stunned as I was. There was no way I had received that score. There was just no way. A perfect score was rare and incredibly difficult to accomplish. My score was too good to be true because that meant my vault had been nearly flawless, nearly perfect, nearly the best. I knew in my gut I had done well, I just didn't know how well.

My smile grew until my cheeks throbbed. I was only a tenth of a point from getting the perfect score. That meant I got all the points for difficulty.

Madeline glanced at me, her eyes gleaming with p

ride. I threw myself into her, jumping into her arms, something countless gymnasts have done when they're overcome with excitement. She squeezed me so tight and I smiled against her.

"Excellent, Adrianna. Unbelievable job and score. I knew you had it in you, but you continue to surprise me every day," she said.

Madeline released me, and I stood before her, so ecstatic I could barely see straight. That score put me in the lead on the first rotation.

"Keep that up and you'll be unstoppable."

"We will be unstoppable," I corrected her. She was just as much part of the team as Kova was, and I wanted to make sure she knew that.

"Get your mind focused on bars. Execute another flawless routine like you just did on vault and no one will be able to beat you today." I nodded. "I'm telling you, girly, you're one of those gymnasts who come out when they perform. I didn't expect it." Madeline turned away with a smile.

Bars was also my jam. My heart fluttered just thinking about it, anticipation flowing through me. I wasn't worried in the least when it came to bars, not anymore. I moved between the high and low bar effortlessly and smooth as silk. Vault and bars were my specialty events, the ones I did extremely well on and could perform more difficult skills the majority could not. Whereas beam was Reagan's specialty.

Once I had bars behind me, another almost perfect score, the rest of the competition flew by. I was on cloud nine and dominating the meet. My scores continued to blindside me—and my coach—and when more than one gold medal was draped around my neck, the only eyes I sought in the sea of coaches and gymnasts were a pair of bright green eyes that had made this all possible.

If only Kova was here to celebrate with me.

Later that evening, I couldn't sleep. My body was depleted of all energy, but my mind was running wild with thoughts of Kova and how I placed at the meet. I wanted to tell him how I did, but I needed privacy. I glanced around the dimly lit hotel room. Grabbing my cell phone from the night stand, I quietly got out of bed and achingly made my way into the bathroom so I wouldn't disturb the girls. The last thing I needed was Reagan to see me on my phone in the middle of the night. I decided if she, or Holly, or Sarah woke up, that it wouldn't seem strange if I was in the bathtub; so I quickly filled the tub and undressed, then got in.

Reaching for my cell, I leaned back and texted Kova.

Me: Hey…I just wanted to tell you that I placed first in three events today, and second in one. By far the best meet for me to date.

Much to my surprise, three little dots popped up and he responded immediately.

Coach: Madeline informed me how wellll you did. I am so proud of you. I kneew you could do it.

I had no idea she had messaged him, but I was happy she had. A small smile slid across my face and my fingers started moving.

Me: She thinks if I keep going the way I have been that I'll be unstoppable.

Coach: I have no doubt about hat.

My smile grew bigger and I tried not to laugh at his typo.

Me: I hope you're feeling better.

Coach: I fine Nnothing vodka cannot help

My brows furrowed at my phone.