PREVIEW -
Keeping Up Appearances - a sequel to The Heart of a Champion
After successfully avoiding gymnastics for most of her adult life, Kaylie Cruz returns to the Rock as an agent for Payson and Sasha's rising star, Jessica Rudolph. Now she has to deal with parents, attitudes, and...a certain someone. Kaylie/Austin Sasha/Payson
(excerpt from 1st chapter)
"This seat taken?"
A petite brunette looked up at this question. She was sitting at an airport bar alone, attracting some attention from surrounding males. This was no surprise considering her looks. With a toned figure, long hair, tan skin, and a stylish gray dress she was certainly enough to induce head turns from the opposite sex. She gave the inquiring young man a small smile and gestured silently to the empty seat on her right before looking back up at a mounted television set.
"Jessica Rudolph," the reporter on the screen asked. "You're the new world champion. What's next? The Olympics?"
"I certainly hope so!" the young girl said, her voice breaking nervously. "That would be nice. The Olympics, I mean. That would be so embarrassing if I didn't go now..."
The young woman heaved a heavy sigh and draped one leg gracefully over the other, taking dainty sips from her martini glass. The man next to her subtly looked her up and down - he couldn't help himself.
"So..." he started nervously, trying to turn his A game on. "Drinking alone, uh?" He hoped his joke wouldn't take offense.
It didn't. The brunette chuckled. "Well, I'm going home today. It's been a while."
"Oh." he said with a knowing grin. "I get it."
"Yeah, I have to go to a wedding - well, it's sort of a wedding." she said. "I haven't seen these people in a while, so I thought I'd relax and take the edge off before my flight."
He watched her attention travel back to the interview on the television. He couldn't tell whether he was bothering her or whether she was easily distracted.
"Are you interested in gymnastics?" he asked, nodding toward the television.
"Uh...I used to be." The girl looked down at her lap, suppressing a secretive smile.
Finally brave enough, the young man extended his hand toward the pretty woman. "I'm Tom, by the way."
"Kaylie Cruz."
She returned his grip firmly. Kaylie then lifted her left hand from its place on her lap, resting it firmly on the counter for him to see.
Ah, an engagement ring, Tom observed cursing his bad luck. I should have known...
"You know what?" he said, looking at his watch hand nervously. "I-I just remembered - I have to head to my gate now. It was nice to meet you!"
Kaylie shook her head with amusement and watched the young man scurry away. She found that the good ole ring flaunt was enough to prevent most men from hitting on her. This one had made an admirable effort, though. Kaylie had to give him credit.
She sat forward again and finished her drink, catching the tail end of the television interview.
"Do you have any advice to girls your age, Jessica?" the reporter asked.
"Uh..." the blond teenager paused, eyes shifting back and forth. "I mean, I don't know. I don't know much about normal teenagers. It's not like I spend time at the mall. Elites generally don't hang out with people our own age. I train most of the time."
"Wow..." Kaylie said to herself as she watched the train wreck unfold. Jessica Rudolph – a girl who had been quickly thrust into America's spotlight - definitely lacked the self awareness and tact needed to get through an interview. Then again, Kaylie knew more than anyone how hard it was to hone normal social skills when most of the interactions you experience as a teenager are with inanimate gym equipment. Poor girl.
Kaylie Cruz thanked the bartender and placed some money on the table. Now more relaxed, she was ready to take on (what she hoped would be) a short weekend in Boulder, Colorado.
At the ripe age of twenty-five, Kaylie was taking what her older brother Leo called "an unconventional life path." This phrase was eye roll inducing. Of course Leo, the man with more direction than a traffic light, would think that about her. How typical.
Seven years ago, Kaylie Cruz ended her gymnastics career on a somewhat lower note than she dreamed, winning just one event bronze medal at the 2012 Olympic games. She pretended like she wasn't disappointed...and frankly she was convincing. After months of press with Emily and Payson and repeating the phrase "so proud of my team" over and over again, Kaylie Cruz started to believe it herself. She successfully brushed aside her letdown and as soon as the traveling and promotions ended, she closed the back cover on that phase of her life for good. Kaylie had been eager to leave gymnastics - and most of the people in it - behind.
Kaylie then did what any independently wealthy eighteen-year-old would do: she went to Europe to broaden her worldview. At that point, her parents' marriage was completely dissolved and Leo was wrapped up in his PHD program for chemistry, leaving the Cruz family without a home base. In her opinion, leaving the country was the perfect remedy to this situation. Kaylie spent a few years floating around happily. She learned French and Italian, took up photography, attended cooking classes in France, and even had a brief stunt in the fashion industry. Eventually she settled in London where she met her fiancé Eric.
All in all, she spent a good chunk of her adult life successfully avoiding gymnastics. Kaylie didn't know it yet, but her streak was coming to an end and she would soon be tumbling back into the sport - that is, is Sasha Belov and Payson Keeler had anything to say about it.