Chapter 10

"Where are you going?" Sasha asked, rushing after her

"I've got to sleep on this..."

Payson Keeler dipped her toes in the cold pool. The moonlight hit the chlorine water and made dancing strips of light on her skin. She took a seat at the edge of the water and stole a blessed minute of solitary peace.

Inside was yet another party - another excuse to wear a designer label, smile, and as her new publicist would say "work the crowd." She was just about sick of this obligatory showmanship. The Olympics had come and gone months ago and now she felt more like a poodle than a champion. Her life had become an endless sea of talk shows, interviews, receptions, parties, black-tie events, and photo shoots. Emily and Kaylie were stomaching the attention quite well. Payson glanced back inside through the large glass walls on the decorated mansion. She could see them both glowing as they talked to fellow athletes, sports journalists, and A-listers.

"Claustrophobic?" a familiar voice asked. Someone sat down next to her and dipped their feet in next to her.

"Hey Austin." she said. "Shouldn't you be inside?"

"Aww come on." he said nudging her. "You don't want me out here, Keeler? Too good for me? I won a gold medal too, you know."

She gave him a confused look. "No, I just assumed you'd be more at home inside. That's where all the girls are."

He laughed. "And what are you, a fish?"

"No." Payson smirked. "You can stay if you want. I don't care."

"Aww, that's sweet."

The two stayed waded their feet for a few minutes. Austin ended up draping his coat around Payson.

"So I couldn't help but notice," Austin said. "that you haven't been yourself lately."

"What do you mean?" Payson wondered what Austin Tucker was doing observing her in the first place.

"You should enjoy your glory while it lasts. This is what you've wanted all along, isn't it? It's a shame you can't even crack a smile."

Payson was tracing the surface of the water with her finger. She was tired of people telling her to look happier. She couldn't perform moods on command.

"I am grateful, but it wasn't just about the medal." She paused. "Someone once told me that it's the road you take to Olympics is what really counts – how you achieve your goals and who you share it with. Unfortunately, I'm at a dead end now."

"Yup." Austin said. "Retirement is an ugly word."

She sighed in agreement. "You know it's weird. I used to have such focus. Up until now I've always known what I was going to do tomorrow - I was going to wake up early and train. Now, I don't have anything. I don't have to be anywhere. Imagining my life without gymnastics is...unsettling. Reporters keep asking me what's next. What am I supposed to say?"

"Really?" Austin said with smirk. "Payson, don't you realize what all this means? You can sleep in now! You can date and goof off. You can do something completely stupid if you want. The world is your oyster bar!"

She laughed at that. Austin had finally cracked her. "I've never had an oyster."

"Aw man, you don't know what you're missing."

Suddenly and unceremoniously Austin swooped in and kissed Payson squarely on the mouth. She didn't even have a chance to close her eyes.

"You're a fascinating specimen, Payson Keller." he said, his face still close to hers. "You're not like the other girls. I can't seem to figure you out."

"That's because I don't swoon when you put on those stupid sunglasses." Payson finally found her voice, but for some reason she wasn't pulling away from him.

"Exactly." Austin said with awe. His eyes refocused on her lips with anticipation. "When was the last time you did something spontaneous, Payson?"

She was dumbstruck. Her mind searched backwards, but all she saw were practices, physical therapy, competitions, conditioning, and one lonely kiss from her first crush, Nicky Russo. Nothing spontaneous came to mind. She gulped and stared at Austin.

He leaned in again and kissed her. Payson knew she should probably go inside. In fact, she probably shouldn't hang out with Austin Tucker at all. He was a nice person, but the only time you could the words "consistent" and "dependable" in the same sentence as his name was when you were discussing his gymnastics. Still, a small voice in the back of her head kept asking, "Why the hell not?"

She closed her eyes, threw caution to the wind, and kissed him back.

Payson woke up from her dream gasping. This was odd, considering that it was more of a memory than a nightmare. Still, she'd just relived one of her less noble moments in life. That was traumatic enough.

Then she noticed a pair of big, blue eyes staring at her from her doorway.

"Mommy, did you have a nightmare?" Ally asked, surveying Payson carefully. "Do you want me to sleep with you tonight?"

Payson scooped up her daughter and set her next to her on the bed.

"Sweetie, I would love that."

Jessica Rudolph and Nina Hart were baffled - completely baffled. It was Monday morning, a day they usually dreaded since that meant early morning conditioning and ab work. This Monday, however, they were stretching comfortably in the gym starting hours later than they normally would.

"What's going on?" Nina asked curiously. "I can't believe Sasha canceled conditioning."

Jessica shrugged. "I'm not complaining."

Sasha Belov waltzed in a moment later to the crowded gym. He didn't notice the odd stares he was receiving from the athletes. He briskly walked over to Payson.

"Good morning, Payson." he said in a neutral, professional voice. "Did you have a good weekend?"

"Oh yes." she answered while everyone at the Rock stared at her. "Got my car inspected, ran some errands, spent time with Ally - the usual."

"Good." he said, shifting his eyes from side to side.

Nina nudged Jessica and gave her a knowing look. The young elite wasn't buying this staged display of normalcy. Jessica didn't seem to be either.

"Payson," he whispered to her once all the athletes had dispersed and begun their workouts. "We should talk."

Payson was staring at her clipboard with a disproportionate amount of focus. He touched her arm and shiver traveled through her body.

"Let's meet in your office in twenty."

A few minutes later the two coaches were standing face to face. Sasha was keeping his distance and self control. Payson followed his lead. In a very professional manner he motioned for her to take a seat opposite of him at his desk.

"So..." he said, scooting in his chair and folding his hands in front of him. "I think we should date."

The way he said it was very calm and rational. Payson had to remind herself that this idea was crazy.

"I can think of about a million reasons why we shouldn't." she countered.

"Let's hear them."

"Well..." she started. "You used to be my coach - that's different. Also, we work together, the National Committee would freak out, and our gymnasts would be uncomfortable."

"Let's just toss out all the ones that are related to gymnastics, shall we?" Sasha said with distaste. "I generally don't mix thoughts of Ellen Beals and the National Committee with my personal life...or any happy thought at all, for that matter."

"There's our age difference too." said Payson, continuing to list qualms. "You're what…ten years older than me? Eleven?"

"Interesting…you didn't mention that point of discomfort last time we spoke." Sasha said. "Then again, I think you were too busy kissing me."

Payson rolled her eyes. Clearly, he wasn't going to make this easy.

"And of course there's the fact that I'm a single mom." Payson ended with the big one. The single mom card was strong enough to end any relationship before it began.

"So what?" Sasha asked dismissively.

"So…it's complicated."

"Great." he sat back and put his feet on his desk. "I hate being bored. Oh - and I love spending time with Ally."

Her eyes ran other his body language. "Are you even taking this seriously?"

"Of course I am!"

"It doesn't look like it."

"I take us very seriously." he said. "which is why I think we should date. Let's face it, it would've happened eventually. I mean…do you remember the trampoline?"

Payson blushed deeply.

Honestly, she really wanted to give in to his teasing, but Sasha's arrogance was too aggravating. Payson didn't want to give him the satisfaction of an easy victory. She would just have to be the adult in this situation and cling to her blessed rationality like a mad woman.

"Sasha, I'm grateful, but just because you did me a secret favor years ago, doesn't mean I should date you." she challenged.

Sasha leaned forward and met her gaze with a smirk. "Well guess what? I don't think you jumped me this weekend just because I did you a secret favor."