the sports tape around my foot to relieve the strain on my Achilles, Kova walked over and crouched down. He placed his palm out and waved his fingers for the tape without speaking a word. I slapped the roll of tape in his hand and gave him my foot, putting my weight on my arms behind me. I glanced away. Kova was better at wrapping up my Achilles anyway.
"You ready for today?"
"Ready as I'll ever be."
"You do not think you could be better?"
I huffed, shaking my head. I knew he wasn't goading me. "There's always room for improvement, Coach. You know this, but as of right now, I'm ready." I paused, then took a chance and debated quickly whether I wanted his answer or not. "Do you think I'm ready?"
He didn't lift his head, but the corner of his mouth curved up at my question. He took a moment to respond as he expertly wrapped up my injury.
Lowering his voice, he tipped his head up just enough for me to see his eyes. Damn those fucking eyes of his. They always got me.
"If I did not think you were ready, you would not be here. Trust me. You are more than ready."
Kova placed my foot on the floor, giving my ankle a gentle squeeze before he let go. His knees cracked as he stood to his full height, our gazes still connected. Reaching out with his hand, he helped me up. There was a stillness inside me amid the chaos surrounding us as we stared into one another's eyes. With Kova’s support, confidence roared through me. He changed my whole mind frame. I was a cub, and he was the lion who breathed strength into me.
A bashfulness came over me. I turned away, trying to hide the happiness I knew rushed from within. My cheeks burned, which didn't help the plum blush I applied earlier. His raspy chuckle caught my ears and when I turned back around, Kova had a full grin spread across his charismatic face. My heart nearly stopped. This wasn't just any old smile. This was a full-on, I'm so proud to call you mine, type smile.
And he did it in a place filled with cameras.
Be still my wild heart.
Kova cupped my shoulder and squeezed. "Everyone will be watching. Show them what you're made of, Adrianna."
Forty-One
I stomped my feet in chalk to absorb the dampness and watched as the powdery white smoke formed a cloud around my shins.
I was next to perform.
My palms were clammy, and my body was jittery. I had an abundance of adrenaline pumping through me and shaky nerves to combat against it. I was worked up and excited, eager yet wired, but I also felt like I had eighty-seven shots of caffeine streaming through my veins.
Kova had walked with me to the end of the vault runway. I tightened my wristbands and shook out my legs as I listened to him speak only to me, giving me last-minute tips and reminders. Holly had already gone, so had Reagan. Holly took a giant step to the right, while Reagan stuck her landing. Naturally.
Now, it was my turn.
"Remember, you start a foot back. Long and low into the board. Get your body over and hands on the table fast so you get a good block. As soon as you hit the flight peak—remember to glue your ankles together—crank as hard and as fast as you can."
I nodded hastily at Kova's directions and tightened the Velcro across my wrists. I'd started using wristbands for vault not too long ago, similar to the ones I had for bars, only these were padded and used to support my wrist from the huge block I needed to gain height. It also helped with the pinching and tenderness I had in my wrists after working tumbling passes on the floor for hours on end, but Kova didn't know about that.
"Breathe through your stomach," Kova suggested, a soothing tone meant to ease my worries. I looked at him with gratitude and my nerves immediately calmed down.
Kova placed his hands on my shoulders, bent down, and looked squarely into my eyes.
"Focus. Do not crack. You got this."
I nodded again, eyes alert but words escaped me. Kova walked away, back to where the team and coaches were, while I stood at the end of the runway. I shot a glance at the judges’ table. Three women of various ages in blue dress suits and stiff posture communicated over a table of papers and