Page 26 of Salto

“What party?” I asked, feigning innocence as I slid into the driver’s seat.

I’d heard about the party. I was just hoping I could pretend it didn’t exist. I wasn’t a huge partier.

Laney groaned. “Scar. The end-of-year party the men’s team throws every year. You’ve gone to all of them.”

I only ever went because Mia and Laney had dragged me there every time.

“Liam said to invite you,” she said, her tone suddenly turning teasing and singsongy, like we were twelve and she’d just intercepted a note from my crush in math class. “Specifically you.”

I snorted, dropping my head back against the headrest. “I’m sure he did.”

“You’re unbelievable,” she laughed. “He still likes you.”

“He needs to give it up,” I said, shaking my head. “We haven’t been together in forever. And even when we were—it didn’t work. We don’t have time for that. Our schedules don’t allow for a real relationship.”

“Okay, but…” another voice cut in. It was Mia on the phone now. “Josh and I are making it work.”

I smiled despite myself. Maybe Mia was just better at balance than I was.

My whole world was gymnastics. It always had been. Dating another gymnast meant two impossible schedules colliding. Dating someone outside the sport wasn’t much easier. They never understood why gymnastics always came first.

“Mia. Josh is not also a gymnast with a ridiculous training schedule. He’s a finance major,” I said.

“True,” she said, laughing. “But couldn’t you find yourself a nice Communication major? Anyone in your classes?”

My brain suddenly conjured up a picture of silvery blond hair and a sleeve of tattoos.

Absolutely not.

“There’s not really anyone in my classes I’m interested in.”

Which was true.

Communication majors? No.

Dangerously cute Finnish Olympic gold medalists who were entirely off-limits?

There might be one of those…

“You are so strung out, Scar,” Laney said, taking the phone back again. “You deserve a break. At least come to the party and chill. You don’t have to do anything. Just hang out.”

A break.

The word felt almost foreign. It was hard enough to give myself Sundays off. And even then, I’d found a way to finagle a sliver of gymnastics into that too.

Tonight hadn’t felt like something I needed a break from.

If anything, it felt like there was still more to do.

“You’re hungry.”

Rove’s words slipped into my mind again, and I shut my eyes briefly.

Get out of my head.

“Scar?” Laney pressed. “Are you coming or not?”

I exhaled slowly. I didn’t want to be a buzzkill. Maybe a few hours at a party would help me relax. Sitting alone in my apartment would only leave me to ponder my thoughts.