Page 21 of Dickathlon

“Well, I’m happy that you two are such good friends. That’s a rare thing these days. Hold on to it.”

“Yes, Mom.”

“Can we open presents now that Uncle Ty is awake?”

I turned to see all four kids in the archway leading to the living room, each one was holding a present.

“Of course, my little babies! Let’s all go into the living room and Grampy Bill can be our Santa.”

“Maybe someone younger this year, dear,” my dad suggested. “Let’s have Ty do it instead.”

As everyone filed into the living room, I went over to the tree, found the Santa jacket folded on the bay window nook behind it, and slipped it on.

“That’s not what Santa looks like!” James shouted.

“This is California, kid. If Grampy says I’m Santa, then I’m Santa. You want your presents, right?” I asked.

James eagerly nodded his head as the other three screamed about presents and how I was the best Santa ever.

It was a good morning.

* * *

February, the next year

Luke returned to New York after we celebrated New Year’s in San Jose. I went back to work, and we both had to get back to school and to training our asses off. If I wasn’t in class, coaching the kids, or sleeping and eating, then I was working out, on an apparatus, running, or doing something else to prepare for the Winter Cup.

It was the first event of the season where it was possible to qualify for Nationals. Just because I was on the national team last year didn’t automatically grant me a spot this year since it reset annually.

There wasn’t a reason for me to not make it. I was in peak physical condition - well, close to peak. Christmas had set me back just a little, but my workouts were on target, and Woodward was happy with what he was seeing from me.

I felt ready.

It was the first big event of the year, so USA Gymnastics made a huge deal out of it. The roster of athletes was posted on the website weeks ago. The promo spots were all over ESPN’s website. My parents had bought tickets well in advance. Pierce was coming too, rooming with me actually. Probably because it was in Las Vegas. Even if that were the reason, it would be nice to have him there, especially since Luke wasn’t going.

He and his new coach were still ironing things out. Cam had texted me a few weeks ago, saying he wasn’t coming since he wasn’t ready to see Luke yet. I told him Luke wasn’t going, but it didn’t change his mind. As for the twins, after Brisbane Grant retired from gymnastics and went back to school, and Graham moved to Australia to be with Jake. The only member of the Olympic team attending the Cup would be me.

And while I knew most of the other gymnasts’ names, I wasn’t really friends with any of them. Earning a spot on the Olympic team caused a little understandable resentment in those not selected. I saw Alexander Chen and Brandon Miller on the list. They were the two alternates in Brisbane. I hadn’t seen them since the Olympic trials last year. Not that there’d be any trouble or anything, but I’d have to force my way through the awkwardness.

Quinn was covering for me while I was here. I was only missing a few days of training with the kids. The administrators at the school certainly understood. It looked good for them to have an Olympian on staff, and that gave me a lot of leeway with them. I didn’t have much school work, and since I had finished all my requirements for my major, this semester was pretty much easy fluff. I could coast to graduation.

Pierce and I flew in a day earlier than my parents, giving each of us our own room for one night. It gave me the opportunity to get some sleep, and for Pierce to do whatever he wanted. I planned on getting to the venue early for podium training. It would give me a chance to check things out, try each of the apparatus, and mingle with the other guys.

“Night, Ty-Dye.”

“Say hi to the hookers for me, bro.”

“Strippers, dude. I don’t do hookers anymore.”

“Progress is a good thing!” I yelled, as the door shut behind him.

I tried not to think about how sad it was to spend my first night in Vegas alone in my hotel room, but it was too late, the thought had already crossed my mind. I took everything out of my suitcase, filled the dresser with my regular clothes, and tossed my toiletry bag in the bathroom. My gym bag was already packed for tomorrow. I always carried it on the plane, so it couldn’t get lost and then I wouldn’t be fucked at a comp with nothing to wear.

I flipped through the room service menu, ordered the healthiest thing I could find, and raided the tiny fridge for water and a snack. Getting comfortable on the bed, I found Jurassic Park playing on television and out of habit, started checking my social apps.

I had uninstalled Instagram before Christmas. It was Luke’s suggestion. It had been too much of a distraction. I told him to follow his own advice, but he had an underwear sponsorship. Imagine getting paid to post thirsty pics? Must be nice. Even though I was trying to move past Declan, I wasn’t going to stress about meeting a guy either. Trying to do that after the Olympics had been fun, but the reality of my life was I needed to stay at the top of the field to have a chance to make it to the next Olympics. And if I wasn’t at the top, I needed to be damn close.

Today couldn’t have been going better.