Saved by Love (Bellevue Bullies Series Book 7) by Toni Aleo

Author:Toni Aleo [Aleo, Toni]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-06-27T18:30:00+00:00

twenty-one

Evan

I learned something new about myself today. I don’t like when Callie falls on an event.

It doesn’t make sense since I’ve watched her fall a million times and get right back up, but it’s different when it’s a meet day. I know she’s put an immense amount of pressure on herself to bring in a good score for her team. I know how badly she wanted it, and it’s frustrating when her warm-up was incredible and she didn’t miss one little backward flip thing with no hands. She was killing it, but then she didn’t land it.

As much as it sucks and my heart dropped for her, her strength is without compare and inspiring. Callie glared at the beam, took in a deep breath, and got back on, finishing the rest of her routine aggressively and flawlessly. They still had to drop her score since it was the lowest, but she gave them a fighting chance just in case someone else fell. As much as I wanted to talk to her about it and tell her how incredible she is to me, she only did our handshake without making eye contact.

As an athlete, I respect her process. Even if it makes me twitch and long to comfort her. All the while, I’m so impressed by her, it only makes me like her more. I remember when my cousin Ryan would talk about his now-wife, Sofia, and how she was the best of the best as a gymnast. He would say that the humility of gymnastics and the strength it takes only make you respect the gymnast and the sport even more. I didn’t know it then, but he was right. This sport can humble the hell out of anyone. One second, you’re on; the next, you’re not. It’s insane and truly frustrating.

I put my foot on the mat to keep it from sliding as the crowd loses their damn minds while Callie preps for her tumbling pass. Her floor routine is my favorite. She shows the hell out, and I love watching her. It’s not only because I like her and I think she’s incredible and smart and gorgeous, but for real, she’s the best. Even with her fall on beam, if she lands this pass, she’ll finish strong. As she starts her run, I clap my hands, hollering her name as she hits the floor and does two layouts in the air before landing with no rebound. A stick, the girls call it. The whole gym loses their shit, screaming and cheering as Callie rolls to the floor and poses with one leg bent to touch her head while she holds herself up with her hands.

God, she’s indescribable. She stands, saluting to the judges, before she runs to her coach, hugging him tightly. She has to run by me to get to her teammates, and when she stops for our handshake, my heart soars. Our handshake has become almost like breathing. It’s just what we do, and I dig it.

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