Balance (Off Balance 1)

“Why does my personal life interest you so much? Unless you’re the one into girls and you want me?” It wasn’t in my nature to stoop so low, but today was not the day.

“How can you be friends with him,” she looked at Hayden, “and not do anything? I would’ve given up my V card to him any day.”

“Not that it’s any of your information, but I don’t have my V card,” I said with air quotes. “There. Will that help you sleep better at night?”

“You don’t? Since when?”

I was getting confused. How the hell would she know about my virgin status to begin with? “What do you mean, since when?”

“You don’t remember? The day we went to the beach and your friend Ava was there? We played Truth or Dare that night around the fire? It was then when you admitted to not having sex yet.”

Avery. But that was the least of my concerns right now. My chest heated, blood quickly rose to my cheeks and out to my ears as it dawned on me. Christ Almighty, I had said that! I couldn’t remember what I ate for dinner five nights ago let alone what I said to the mean girl squad leader. However, with Reagan reminding me, I certainly had divulged my virginity status and now I just fucked myself admitting I was no longer a virgin.

“Well, I lied. It was none of your business back then and it sure isn’t now. Shouldn’t you be up on bars perfecting your routine?”

Reagan studied my face, my cheeks blushing even darker.

“You had sex since you’ve been here,” she declared.

“I’m not having this conversation with you. If you’re not going to get up on bars, I will.” I stepped around her, but she stopped me by gripping my arm.

“You have, haven’t you?”

“What does it matter to you?” I yanked my arm away.

“Oh my God, maybe she did bag Hayden,” Sarah mumbled, laughing.

Bag Hayden? Who says that?

“Well, well, well. Carrot top here has been deflowered.”

“You know, Reagan, have you ever seen an actual carrot top? Because they’re green, not red. So the term carrot top doesn’t even make sense. And in case you’re color blind, I’m clearly not a solid redhead.”

Reagan’s cheeks colored and I secretly took joy in it. She was pissed, and I could see the thoughts spinning in her head so fast that a slow smile spread across my face. I rendered her speechless, for once.

“I’m pretty sure I just heard you say you have a boyfriend. What, and who I do, in my spare time is none of your business.” I had heard her correctly, right?

Palming the low bar, I swung and mounted it.

“I’ll find out who you lost your V card to. Then I’ll tell Coach since we’re not allowed to have boyfriends,” she said with spite. “Can’t imagine Daddy can get you out of that one.”

Ignoring her, I placed my feet on the bar and stood reaching for the high bar. She was pushing me to crack, but I refused to give in. There was no way she would rat me out, she was just as guilty if that was the case.

Casting to a handstand, I did a series of handstands to warm up and then began adding in connections. I had no pain in my calf yet, though everything I was doing was very light. My body flew seamlessly through the air from one bar to the other. I loved bars. I loved the feeling of shutting out the world and letting go, only relying on myself to catch the bar. It was an adrenaline rush, one I chased often with this sport. When I felt my arms and shoulders tightening, I slowed down to rest on the high bar by angling my hips against it and leaning forward. Up next were pirouettes and a light dismount, where I would start all over and do it again until I felt ready to move on from there.

After I tightened the Velcro on my wrists, I exhaled when my hands gripped the bar and visualized my next move. Awareness kicked through me. My back prickled with heat and I knew without a shadow of a doubt who was glaring at me from behind.

I looked over my shoulders. Kova.

He was staring at me furiously, like he wanted to strangle me. The blood drained from my face, my weight slowly descending further on to the bar as trepidation flooded my veins. Kova glared from the sideline, his impenetrable gaze knocking the air from lungs. He’d heard everything, the entire conversation with Reagan.

I was cold to the bone. Numb.

“Sarah and Holly were there when you said you were a virgin, so they’re my witnesses.” I cringed at her words. “I’ll get down to it.” Then she chalked up, lost in her thoughts again as she mounted the set of uneven bars to the left, clearly unaware of Kova standing on the other side of me.

I didn’t process what Reagan said. I couldn’t. All I could focus on were the veins in Kova’s forearms and the tick working in his jaw. His nose flared and I was sure I’d see smoke coming from his ears any minute.

I felt sick.