suitcase. Seconds later she’s in front of me, holding out a granola bar or something. “It’s a protein bar. Eat it.”
I shake my head. “I don’t need another reason for Nina to discredit me.”
Stevie sighs, dropping the package on top of my legs, then sits back on my bed. “Since we’re sharing secrets… I realized a couple years ago that no two elite gymnasts were meant to follow the same diet. I need more calories than many of the others and I think you’re the same. You feel like it’s manageable now, but after a few more days, your legs will start to feel heavy at the end of workouts, then eventually in the middle, then all the time. Leaving you a few pounds lighter and no energy to actually practice like you need to. You started your period, right?” I nod, my face flushing again. “And you grew, right? You’re what… five one now? Five two?”
“Five one.”
“See? Your diet has to be adjusted to accommodate your body’s changes. Sometimes I think people forget that part. We’re so used to being careful we don’t realize when we’re doing damage.”
I look down at the protein bar and as if fate had gotten involved in this little debate, my stomach growls and I slowly unwrap the package and take a bite. I immediately make a face, but continue chewing despite the dry crumbly texture.
“They taste like cardboard but they’re top-notch, lots of vitamins, iron…” Stevie shakes her head, refocusing. “So Jordan. Tonsils. What’s the big deal?”
“He’s freaked out,” I say, wolfing down another bite. Okay, maybe I am starving myself a little if this thing is appetizing. “He doesn’t want anything to do with the surgery. Doesn’t want to tell Bentley. I can’t talk to him without getting pissed off because he’s making me lie for him and he’s being stupid. He needs to deal with this and get better.”
She looks at me like I’m insane. “Seriously? That’s your relationship problem? I figured it was about the blond ex-girlfriend or something.”
Liberty .
My stomach twists just thinking about her and Jordan even though I know it’s over and I also know that Jordan talked to her and they’re okay. She’s sort of nice, too. But I’m trying to forget that part.
“Don’t you think his health is more serious than an ex-girlfriend?”
Stevie shrugs. “I didn’t say it wasn’t. I’m just surprised you haven’t gone to greater lengths to convince him to grow a pair and get going on the tonsil removal.”
I stare blankly at her. “Greater lengths? Like threaten to tell Coach Bentley? Think he’ll forgive me if I do?”
Should I even be worrying about his forgiveness when Jordan’s health is involved? God, I’m selfish.
Stevie snorts back a laugh. “Not threats. Bribes.”
“Like money?” I’m still not following.
She shakes her head, laughing even harder. “Sexual bribes. Get him alone and tell him what you’ll do if he agrees to talk to his dad and have surgery.”
If my face was pink a minute ago, it’s bright red now. My gaze flickers toward the closed door as if that’s going to tell me if anyone might have been able to listen in on this humiliating conversation.
“I’m not sure I’m ready to… to…” I stutter, unable to say, have sex. Or more specifically, have sex with Jordan, though there isn’t much difference between the two phrases for me. I don’t think I’m ready. Then I think about the night I snuck out and slept in Jordan’s bottom bunk bed with him. Okay, maybe a little ready.
She holds up her hands to stop me from trying to spit out the words. “No, no, no, I don’t mean you should have sex. You should never have sex unless you’re ready and frankly, it’s a terrible idea right now. I’m just saying whatever you haven’t done, just go for it. Take it to the next level. That’s all. You love him, right? He’s all about you, so probably a teeny tiny favor would do the job.”
Now that sounds reasonable. But is she
I shake my head. “I don’t need another reason for Nina to discredit me.”
Stevie sighs, dropping the package on top of my legs, then sits back on my bed. “Since we’re sharing secrets… I realized a couple years ago that no two elite gymnasts were meant to follow the same diet. I need more calories than many of the others and I think you’re the same. You feel like it’s manageable now, but after a few more days, your legs will start to feel heavy at the end of workouts, then eventually in the middle, then all the time. Leaving you a few pounds lighter and no energy to actually practice like you need to. You started your period, right?” I nod, my face flushing again. “And you grew, right? You’re what… five one now? Five two?”
“Five one.”
“See? Your diet has to be adjusted to accommodate your body’s changes. Sometimes I think people forget that part. We’re so used to being careful we don’t realize when we’re doing damage.”
I look down at the protein bar and as if fate had gotten involved in this little debate, my stomach growls and I slowly unwrap the package and take a bite. I immediately make a face, but continue chewing despite the dry crumbly texture.
“They taste like cardboard but they’re top-notch, lots of vitamins, iron…” Stevie shakes her head, refocusing. “So Jordan. Tonsils. What’s the big deal?”
“He’s freaked out,” I say, wolfing down another bite. Okay, maybe I am starving myself a little if this thing is appetizing. “He doesn’t want anything to do with the surgery. Doesn’t want to tell Bentley. I can’t talk to him without getting pissed off because he’s making me lie for him and he’s being stupid. He needs to deal with this and get better.”
She looks at me like I’m insane. “Seriously? That’s your relationship problem? I figured it was about the blond ex-girlfriend or something.”
Liberty .
My stomach twists just thinking about her and Jordan even though I know it’s over and I also know that Jordan talked to her and they’re okay. She’s sort of nice, too. But I’m trying to forget that part.
“Don’t you think his health is more serious than an ex-girlfriend?”
Stevie shrugs. “I didn’t say it wasn’t. I’m just surprised you haven’t gone to greater lengths to convince him to grow a pair and get going on the tonsil removal.”
I stare blankly at her. “Greater lengths? Like threaten to tell Coach Bentley? Think he’ll forgive me if I do?”
Should I even be worrying about his forgiveness when Jordan’s health is involved? God, I’m selfish.
Stevie snorts back a laugh. “Not threats. Bribes.”
“Like money?” I’m still not following.
She shakes her head, laughing even harder. “Sexual bribes. Get him alone and tell him what you’ll do if he agrees to talk to his dad and have surgery.”
If my face was pink a minute ago, it’s bright red now. My gaze flickers toward the closed door as if that’s going to tell me if anyone might have been able to listen in on this humiliating conversation.
“I’m not sure I’m ready to… to…” I stutter, unable to say, have sex. Or more specifically, have sex with Jordan, though there isn’t much difference between the two phrases for me. I don’t think I’m ready. Then I think about the night I snuck out and slept in Jordan’s bottom bunk bed with him. Okay, maybe a little ready.
She holds up her hands to stop me from trying to spit out the words. “No, no, no, I don’t mean you should have sex. You should never have sex unless you’re ready and frankly, it’s a terrible idea right now. I’m just saying whatever you haven’t done, just go for it. Take it to the next level. That’s all. You love him, right? He’s all about you, so probably a teeny tiny favor would do the job.”
Now that sounds reasonable. But is she
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