I nodded. I still didn't know what that meant. I just assumed I'd see him somehow.
Kova turned around and made a beeline for Coach Elena. They spoke for a moment. I glanced at the judges' table down the runway and powdered my palms then slipped on the wrist guards. The green light flashed, and I licked my lips and swallowed.
Stepping behind the white line, I asked myself what the one thing was that separated me from my competitors.
I had more to lose than them.
The all-around was a perfect example of how everything can change in the blink of an eye when it came to gymnastics. After the second rotation, I’d teetered between third and fourth place because of the balance beam. In the end, I’d secured the silver medal. I had been only five tenths of a point away from gold.
I smiled and told myself I wasn't allowed to be upset. I had so much fun that it was virtually impossible to be sad. I considered myself fortunate to be here.
Dressed in my Team USA sweat suit, I took it all in for the second time as I stood on the podium with Russia and China. Emotion consumed me when our flags were raised. The rich colors of my flag evoked a powerful reaction from me that was electrifying. The butterflies that had been swarming in my stomach the last two days were sprung from the restraints of my ribs and fluttered away. Quiet tears spilled down my cheeks. My heart was overloaded with feeling knowing I'd leave the Olympic Games with a handful of medals.
I glanced around. My eyes browsed over the faces who helped make this event possible. I was still in a state of disbelief and clutched the medal in my hand tighter when I saw him.
I held his stare, afraid to let go.
I had officially achieved my dream. Now I had a bigger battle to face.
Thirty-Seven
"How'd you do it?" Dad asked, his jovial tone causing me to look up.
He had a crystal tumbler in one hand and Sophia's hand in his other.
I shrugged nonchalantly and couldn't help but smile. Gymnastics was all I'd ever known. It was like breathing to me. When I stepped onto the competition floor, my soul came alive and I felt like I was where I should be.
"Seriously. How do you do it?" Avery asked too.
"I don't know. Guess I was born to do it." I joked.
Dad was still looking at me. There wasn't any hardness surrounding his eyes and he didn't look like he was as stressed as he had been. He just looked…happy. Really happy.
"I'm in awe of you," Dad said. He couldn’t stop smiling.
I blushed. "Stop looking at me, Dad."
He mocked confusion and I couldn't help but giggle. "What? I can't look at my daughter who won a bunch of medals at the Olympics? I was captivated watching you. Now I wish I'd attended all your meets."
I didn't want him to feel bad. "You were at the ones that mattered the most."
Sophia patted the top of his hand and he looked at her.
"I can't believe the village was boring," Avery said only for me to hear.
I turned my attention to her.
"It definitely wasn't as glamourous as I thought it would be." I told her how lackluster it was. "It was like a giant schoolyard and everyone was waiting for the bell to ring. I definitely didn't see or hear about any sex orgies that supposedly happen."
"I think that happens after they compete."
I mused over her response. "I guess, but we're asked to leave to allow the other athletes to prepare. I'm thinking it happens in a hotel and not there." Not that I was looking, but I was curious after all the rumors I'd heard.
"Let's take a selfie," Avery said, and held up her cell phone.
I was sitting next to Avery with Dad and Sophia across from us. Xavier was next to Dad, but he mostly kept his focus on his cell phone. We were at a round table in a private dining room for another night of celebrating Team USA. All coaches and family were invited. Everyone was decked out, ready to celebrate. The room was filled with people mingling, and happiness permeated the air, putting a permanent grin on my face from the moment I’d walked in.
Avery held her phone up high. We said, "besties," and smiled. She took a few more pictures and then we looked at them together. She posted one on social media with the hashtag "my best friend is cooler than yours." Then she posted another with the message, "A redhead's perfect accessory—a gold medal." It was a funny one of me trying to sink my teeth into the medal.