Chapter 7

As predicted, Keera Donaldson took the individual title of the invitational as the clear winner on almost every apparatus. Jessica, however, surprised everyone by beating the national champion on the uneven bars. A new, fearless side to Jessica's gymnastics came out that day and no one had been expecting it. She and Nina also took second and third in every other event, making the Rocky Mountain Gym the all-around winners.

Nina and Jessica ran over to Payson with delight after the results were announced. Even Jessica let her guard down and hugged her assistant coach. Payson was in a state of happy shock. Her girls pulling together and winning seemed to counteract the rest of the horrible, unbelievably bad day she was having in Boston.

She, Sahsa, and Austin did as they were told and conducted post-competition interviews with the major sports outlets. They used the vague terms "mistake" and "misunderstanding"liberally as a way to smooth over Sasha's punch.

"We really are great friends." Austin assured one reporter, slinging his arm around Sasha's shoulder. "The whole thing must look really silly in photographs."

"Yes – so silly!" Sasha agreed with a fake smile.

Payson didn't even get around to having a decent conversation with Sasha until after they had arrived at the hotel again for their last night in Boston. This time, unlike the first night, Payson was more than eager to stop by the hotel bar and end her day with alcohol. She couldn't even remember the last time she needed a drink this badly.

"I can't believe you punched him. What were you thinking?" she asked Sasha. "Seriously, what was going through your head when you made that decision because all I could see were caveman instincts."

"I can't believe you didn't tell me Austin Tucker was the father of your child!"

Payson flinched and motioned for him to lower his voice. The last thing she needed was someone to overhear that headline.

"I can't believe it!" Sasha said more quietly now. "Here I was thinking it was some loser form a one night stand or something –"

"Gee thanks." She muttered

"But no!" Sasha said. "It was bloody Austin Tucker, the ying to your yang – the men's gold medalist of 2012!"

"See," Payson said frantically. "This is exactly why we don't tell anyone. If the press knew that Ally was the daughter of Payson Keeler and Austin Tucker, she'd have no chance for a normal life. She would've been pegged as the scandalous gymnastics princess of America, splattered over magazines and tabloids as this ironic figure of athletic royalty. No kid wants or needs that kind of pressure."

Sasha paused. She did have a point.

"So Ally doesn't know -?"

"She knows him and has met him." Payson said. "Ally is still young enough that she hasn't pieced together how different her life is. Once she's been in school for a while and notices that most kids have moms and dads who live with them…"

"What are you going to do then?" Sasha asked. "What are you going to say to her?"

Payson placed her forehead on the table in defeat. "God if I know."

Sasha rubbed her back comfortingly. "So that's why you two didn't tell anyone about the father?" he asked. "Because you were thinking of Ally?"

She rose and locked eyes with Sasha. "Well yes, and no. I mean, that was part of it."

"What was the other part?"

Payson looked at her now empty glass, tracing the rim of her drink sadly with her left hand. "He didn't want it."

Suddenly Sasha was feeling justified in his earlier violence.

"Austin didn't want to settle down. He was young too and we weren't even that serious. I'd maybe been with him three times…it's hard to remember. That whole period after the Olympics was such a blur. I had no idea how to be a normal girl. I had no idea how to not be a gymnast."

"So you slept with Austin?" Sasha asked incredulously.

Payson shot him a warning look. "We all make mistakes. He was mine."

Sasha was in awe. It was hard to believe that Payson had kept this bottled up for so long. "Who else knows?"

"My parents, Becca and Emily. You can't imagine how livid my mom was. I think my dad even tried to convince Austin to marry me." She made a disgusted face and Sasha laughed, picturing it all. "Austin isn't the marrying kind, though. Well, until now…"

Payson thought of the leggy, petite blonde who got her autograph earlier that day. Quickly, she ordered another drink.

"What an idiot." Sasha said bitterly. "He's the one missing out, you know. He's missing all the best times with Ally. He missed her first day of school and her birthdays…"

"He's not evil, Sasha." Payson insisted. "He's not her father in the traditional sense, but he's kept in touch and he sends us a check every month even though he's not obligated to."

"Wanker." Sasha muttered, obviously not listening to her excuses.

"You didn't have to punch him."

"Yes I did."

Payson sighed, letting her perfect posture crumple against her chair. The day had been crazy and emotional taxing, but she also felt relief. The weight of her secret was lessened.

"I'm a big girl now, Sasha." Payson said before turning in for the night. "You're not my coach anymore. It's sweet and all, but you don't have to fight my battles for me."

Sasha avoiding eye contact and down the rest of his drink. He didn't want to tell her, but he knew that his urge to rip apart Austin Tucker had little to do with platonic, coach-like feelings.

After Boston, the Rock was basking in their post- victory glow. Perhaps the biggest change of all was the budding respect between ex-rivals Nina and Jessica. At first Sasha Belov thought the sky was falling, but then he realized that the two were in fact friends.

"Great!" Jessica said, watching Nina dismount from the beam. "See – doesn't that feel better?"

Nina nodded with a smile. "Yeah, thanks for the tip."

Sasha and Payson walked by the girls with approving looks.

"Now that's the kind of teamwork I like to see." Sasha said, pointing between them. Payson smiled and continued to walk along side him. Jessica stared after the pair.

Nina waved her hand in front of Jessica's face. "Earth to Jess. Come in, Jess!"

Jessica snapped back to reality, feeling inspired. "Hey Nina, what do you think of Sasha and Payson?"

"Huh?"

"Sasha and Payson." She repeated.

"Oh." Nina said. "Well, they're great coaches."

"Not their coaching!" said Jessica. "Them…together."

Nina's eyes widened. "Together? Gosh, I hadn't thought."

"Well I have." Jessica said. "and let me tell you, it's a definite possibility."

"Hmmm…" Nina looked across the gym and observed her coaches like she was visiting a zoo. Sasha was close to Payson, looking over her shoulder at a clipboard. He must've said something to make Payson laugh just then because her face suddenly brightened and she turned to him warmly.

"I think you're an evil genius." Nina concluded, meaning it as a sincere compliment. "Do you think they are dating?"

"Maybe…" Jessica said. "It's hard to tell."

"How do you know they're not just friends?" Nina asked. "I mean, he was her coach just like he is our coach. Isn't that a little…icky?"

Jessica laughed. "Nina, for one second imagine that you're twenty-four, not fourteen."

Nina's mind wandered and after a minute of reflection, she started to see Jessica's point.

"Also," Jessica continued. "they are always together. Did you know that they live in the same building? I even heard that he babysits Ally sometimes."

"Oh my gosh!" Nina grabbed Jessica's arm with enthusiasm. "Jessica, I just got a brilliant idea."

"What?"

The short, spunky brunette was practically bouncing with anticipation. "We should thank Sasha and Payson for all their hard work by babysitting Ally this weekend. Maybe with a night off parenting Payson could have a nice, quiet dinner…"

"With Sasha!" Jessica finished excitedly. "My parents have connections at Antoine's downtown. We could make pre-paid reservations for them under their tab."

"Are you sure that's OK?"

Jessica chuckled, putting her arm around her young friend. "Good lord, those two wouldn't even notice."

"Ladies!" Payson called out from across the gym sharply. "If you want to dethrone Keera Donaldson I suggest you do less talking and more flipping."

Jessica and Nina obediently scattered to different apparatuses, but continued to share secretive looks all day. They would set the plan in motion for this weekend.

"It was nice of the Rudolphs to give us a thank you dinner." Payson said. At present, she was sitting in the passenger's seat of Sasha's car wearing a red cocktail dress and heels. She couldn't remember the last time she got this dressed up for anything.

Sasha tried to keep his eyes on the road. "Yes, it was also very nice of Nina and Jessica to babysit…maybe too nice. I had no idea they were so eager. Are you sure they are qualified?"

"Ally is pretty low maintenance." Payson assured him. "Though, she might force them to do some gymnastics in my living room…"

Sasha laughed. He had no doubt.

The two pulled up to Antoine's. Sasha rushed over to the passenger side to open Payson's door. This display of chivalry was not lost on her.

Payson had previously admired this restaurant, though she'd never had an excuse to go in. Inside were candles, lovely music, and classy décor. She was even more surprised when the waiter led them to a secluded back room. Their small nook was adorned with delicate string lights, dozens of red roses, and an elaborate center piece. Chocolate covered strawberries were already at their table and so was a bucket of chilled champagne.

Sasha pulled out her chair for her, then took a seat himself.

"Wow." She said, with stars in her eyes. "The Rudolphs sure know how to have fun." In a very cute and Payson-like way, she took out her cell phone and began taking pictures of everything.

"What are you doing?" Sasha laughed at her anitcs.

"Um – taking pictures for evidence!" she said. "My mom is not going to believe I went here. She's going to be so jealous."

Sasha sat back and stared at his dinner partner.

"What?" she asked, noticing his gaze insecurely.

"You have no idea what is happening right now, do you?"

"We're having dinner thanks to the Rudolphs." Payson said logically, motioning to the wonderment around her. "That's what Jessica said. She said her parents wanted us to –"

"Payson," Sasha interrupted. "When the Rudolphs do something kind, they do not do it through a proxy and they do not do it quietly."

"What are you saying?"

"Look around you." Sasha said.

Payson let her naïve eyes run over the champagne, mood lighting, and roses once more.

"No way." She said in a bewildered state. "You don't think – It' can't be – Would Jessica and Nina -?"

"It seems we have some matchmakers on our hands." He announced.

Payson's jaw dropped. "What ever gave them that idea?" she demanded. "This is very inappropriate of them and we should talk to them about –"

"Payson," Sasha said. "Can you stop being Payson Keeler for just one minute?"

She shut her mouth and looked at him with confusion.

"Look," Sasha continued. "No matter how we got here, we're here. We might as well enjoy it, right?" He poured them champagne and passed a glass for her.

A smiled crept up on her face. She accepted his gesture and clinked his glass lightly. "You're right." She declared. "But we should talk to them anyway."

"Whatever you say."

Payson grabbed a chocolate strawberry and took a large bite. She moaned in satisfaction.

"What?" she asked when she saw that Sasha was once again staring at her with a smirk on his face. "You're the one that told me to enjoy myself!"

Without saying anything, Sasha grabbed his napkin and leaned forward. Very delicately, he wiped a dark smudge of chocolate from the side of Payson's lip. She sat very still. When he was done – and the moment felt like an eternity – Payson finally finished chewing her mouthful and swallowed.

"Better?" she asked, motioning to her face with an embarrassed expression.

"Perfect."