Page 88 of Salto

Moments later, I stood on the board.

When I jumped to the bar, muscle memory took over, and the rest was a blur.

I tightened every single fiber of my being. If there was pain, I tried to relax, forcing myself not to cater to any part of my body that could mess up the skill. The pain faded into the background; I found my rhythm, and only thirty seconds later I was doing my double back off the high bar and sticking the landing.

Not a wobble in sight.

Relief and exhilaration crashed into me all at once. I could just tell it had been good.

I stepped off the mat, and Rove came over, grinning as he shook his head. There was a hint of disbelief on his face.

“What?” I said, my brow furrowing.

“Where did that come from?” he asked. His eyes held a sparkle in them that I don’t know if I’d ever seen before.

“I don’t know,” I said, letting out a nervous laugh. “I just knew I had to get as close to perfect as I could.”

He shook his head like he couldn't believe it. Then his eyes shifted somewhere behind me. His hands settled on my shoulders, and he turned me around.

“Look, Red,” he said, pointing to the scoreboard.

It was almost unbelievable. I blinked, unsure if I was reading the number right.

14.00.

I reached up and covered my mouth. "Oh my gosh."

I spun back around to find Rove grinning. “You got the highest score tonight.”

That proud look in his eyes didn’t fade, and a dangerous emotion shot through me.

It was at that moment that I realized I might do literally anything to see him look at me that way again.

CHAPTER 33

It was dark when we drove home.

The meet had run pretty late, and by the time we got out of the gym and onto the road, it was nearly six-thirty.

The post-meet high was still humming in my veins, but I was trying to contain it. I sat with my elbow propped on the armrest, staring out the passenger window as the city lights blurred past.

After about twenty minutes, I couldn't take it anymore. I had to say something.

"I qualified,” I blurted.

Rove glanced over briefly before looking back at the road.

"You did."

A grin tugged at my mouth.

"I actually qualified."

"You did,” he chuckled.

I laughed and shook my head. "I honestly can’t believe it."

The reality of it suddenly crashed through me all at once.