Page 56 of Salto

I was able to keep my academic scholarship by taking the minimum number of online classes. But the money from my athletic scholarship would officially stop in the next week because I’d left the NCAA team.

That one little signature had changed everything. I had sent an email to the admissions office the next day. Then I texted Caldwell to let him know my decision.

He told the team, and I'd already gotten calls and texts from my teammates. Mia and Laney had called after practice, and we'd promised to meet for lunch at least once a month. But with all our schedules, I wasn't sure how realistic that promise was. I just hoped we'd make it happen.

And with that, the whole NCAA thing had ended.

Just like that.

Leaving had been the easy part. Now I had to worry about finding an apartment, which was proving nearly impossible.

I’d gone to the gym’s website to look at their resources. There was a list of apartments, and it said to call to inquire whether any rooms were available to share with other teammates.

I called every single number on the list. Of course, everyone was already paired up right now. I debated calling Sloane, but I had a feeling she’d already figured something out with Eva, and even if she hadn’t… I didn’t think that would be a good idea.

I was stuck searching through online roommate ads, which was pretty much as sketchy as it sounded.

I didn’t know if this unicorn apartment and roommate would ever show themselves, but they would need to appear soon, or everything was going to fall apart. I sighed, shutting my laptop, and reached for my phone.

I clicked on Rove’s contact and hesitated.

I didn’t really know who else to call. If I were going to lose out on the elite opportunity due to housing, maybe he’d want to know.

I pressed the call button and felt my heart leap nervously in my chest.

Oh gosh.

I’d really pressed it.

“Hello?” He picked up on the second ring, barely giving me ten seconds to compose myself.

I cleared my throat and struggled to find the right greeting.

“So I, uh... you don’t happen to have a friend who would let me live in their house for free, would you?”

There was a brief pause, then a low, husky chuckle. “Are you having trouble finding housing?”

“Unless a miracle happens, I’m pretty much screwed.”

“Are all the girls already paired up?”

“Yup.”

"Let me make some calls," he said.

I bit my lip. “Thank you.”

When he didn’t hang up right away, that quirk within me that didn’t allow for awkward silence butted in.

“I’m officially no longer on the NCAA team,” I said quietly, fiddling with the end of my ponytail.

“Good,” Rove said simply.

“My whole life is being flipped upside down, and you’re saying that’s good?”

“You’re used to flipping, Red. You want to win a gold medal in flipping.”

I rolled my eyes. “You know what I mean.”