Page 53 of Wish You Were Mine
The crowd erupted.
A rush of adrenaline surged through me as I threw my armsinto my final pose, my grin stretching wide. I couldn’t help it. I’d nailed it.
“You crushed it!” Nora called, the first of my teammates to reach me before I was completely swarmed—girls hugging, shrieking, enveloping me in a tangle of red and black leotards and chalk-covered hands.
“Stick queen!” Mayci said.
“That transition waschef’s kiss,” another girl called.
Laughing, I hugged them back, trading high-fives as I made my way off the mat, my limbs buzzing with post-routine energy.
Across the arena, the announcer's voice cut in. “Up next on vault for Minnesota is…”
I slowed as I reached the sideline, letting my breathing steady, and looked toward the stands.
Mom was easy to spot—both hands clamped to her mouth before she gave me an enthusiastic thumbs-up, her eyes shining.
Dad was seated now, too, Charlotte bouncing on his knees in her tiny red leotard. When he noticed me looking, he helped her wave and clap.
I glanced at Theo next. He was seated by my dad with that proud, older brother smile and a hand cupped around his mouth as he mouthed,That was awesome.
I smiled, lifting my fingers in a quick wave.
And that was when I snuck a glance at Owen.
He wasn’t cheering. He didn’t mouth anything or throw me a grin like Theo did.
But he was watching.
Or at least, hehadbeen. Our eyes met for the briefest flicker of a second before he quickly looked away, glancing toward my parents like he was making sure no one had noticed.
Like making eye contact with me in front of them was some kind of crime.
Which, to be fair, it kind of felt like it was.
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. What was he thinking right now? Did he even know?
“Nice work out there,” came a voice behind me.
I turned to see Coach Brent jogging toward me, clipboard in hand and that easygoing grin he always wore. He’d only been with our program for a few months, but he’d already proven to be the perfect counterbalance to Coach Chambers’ no-nonsense intensity.
“That Jaeger was masterful. You had the whole arena holding their breath.”
“Thanks,” I said, pushing a loose wisp of hair back toward my bun. “I was worried I’d missed the high bar for a second.”
“You corrected quick,” he said, nodding. “Excellent recovery.”
I smiled, my shoulders relaxing just a little more. Compliments from Brent always felt earned.
Just then, the judges flipped their score cards and the announcer read them out loud: “We have a 9.9275 for Lucy Archibald on the bars!”
The Eden Falls crowd erupted behind me—students, alumni, parents, and even a few little girls in leotards shrieking like it was the Olympics.
I let the cheer wash over me and clapped with my team, letting myself enjoy it for a heartbeat longer. Then I stepped away, grabbing my water bottle and towel from my chair as I sat and let the rush of it all settle in my chest.
Two events down. Two to go.
After the meet, I barely had time to catch my breath before my family found me on the floor. My mom reached mefirst with her arms outstretched, Charlotte clinging to her hip like a koala in sparkly sneakers.
