16. Nadia

Nadia

T he run-in with my parents, followed by their disappointed texts, was enough to make me realize how much they sucked. Well, that wasn't exactly true. I'd figured out long ago that they were awful people, but I'd convinced myself that it was just their way of pushing me to be my best.

Then I get to the International Games, and millions of people around the world were cheering for my perfect score, and it wasn't enough for them. Nothing would ever be enough for them I realized. I'd wasted way too many years trying to win their approval, and I was done now.

That's why when they texted me and demanded that I spend my day off with them at whatever fancy mansion in the suburbs that they'd rented, I wrote back a terse text telling them that I was spending the day resting. Then I powered down my phone.

"I'm moving off my parents' property as soon as I get back to the States," I told Anna over breakfast.

She looked up from her tartine with a startled look.

"Moving? Moving where?"

I shrugged. "I'm going to find another gym to train with. I'm not going to be on my parents' roster anymore. I'm done being treated like shit."

Her look of approval warmed my heart.

"I think that's a great idea, Princess. You should come to Texas. You can train at my gym. We've got a lot of great gymnasts there."

"Or I could move close to Goat's gym and train with her," I said teasingly.

"Yeah, but I won't be there." Her expression turned vulnerable. "If we were in the same town we could date."

"You really want to date me?" I asked in surprise. "We haven't even slept together."

She leaned across the table and gave me the most sinful smile I'd seen in my entire life. "Based on that hot make out session we had this morning, we've got nothing to worry about."

To my surprise, I felt a flush rise on my cheeks. I could tell from the widening of her smile that Anna saw it too, but she didn't tease me about it, which I appreciated. This morning had been hot. When I'd woken up wrapped in Anna's arms, I hadn't been able to resist turning over and kissing her until we were both breathless.

"Anna Parker! Nadia Gordan!"

We both jumped as Ekaterina barked our names from right next to us. We'd been so busy staring into each other's eyes neither of us had seen her come up. I widened my eyes at Anna, silently asking if she thought the coach had heard our conversation. She shrugged slightly.

Ekaterina pulled out a chair, dropping her breakfast tray on the table.

"You don't mind if I join you, right?"

It was phrased as a question, but like everything the coach said, it was delivered as a slightly threatening order.

"Not at all," I said politely, giving her a smile.

Across the table Anna mouthed, suck up!

I scratched the side of my nose with my middle finger.

"Your punishment is over now," Ekaterina announced as she slathered jam inside a croissant she'd sliced in half lengthwise. "I had my doubts about you girls, but you straightened up."

It was as close to a compliment as we would get from her. She pointed her butter knife at Anna, then at me. "Don't make me sorry that I'm easing up on you."

Other than the ability to have more private pooping time, I couldn't see any reason to change. I really liked spending time with Anna now, even without the added benefit of kissing.

"We'll stick together, Coach," I said. "I think it's brought us good luck."

Her eyes bounced between us, and one corner of her mouth lifted slightly. "I think you two like being together, eh?"

"Yes Coach, Anna and I have become good friends thanks to your insistence that we spend time together."

The coach rolled her eyes but didn't comment any further. We finished our meal in silence, but as we got up to leave, the coach spoke up again.

"You will invite me to the wedding, yes?"

"Yes, Coach," we both responded in unison before we'd even registered the implication of what she'd said.

"How did she know?" I asked as soon as we got back to our room.

"She probably noticed the way you're always staring at me with hearts in your giant princess eyes," Anna said teasingly.

"Maybe she saw all the smoldering looks you've been sending my way," I countered.

We stared at each other for a long, charged moment, then flew towards each other so fast we collided in the middle. Our mouths fused together as we kissed each other desperately, like it had been years instead of a couple of hours since the last time we kissed.

I walked her backwards a few feet until her legs met the cardboard frame of the bed, then we collapsed onto the mattress in a jumble of arms and legs. Propping myself up on my elbows, I looked down at Anna with an affectionate smile. It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her that I'd fallen in love with her, but it was too soon.

"I know we agreed to wait until after the Games to have sex," I started.

"We did," Anna agreed.

"And I know that we need to rest up for the individual competition."

"Yeah."

"But I'm horny as fuck and could use some relief. How about you?"

"I've never been hornier in my life," she said in such a serious voice that I couldn't help but laugh.

"Well, I have an idea."