I raised back into a handstand and started to spin. Two revolutions, then release. I curled in on myself, tumbled three times, and landed. Perfect! The crowd went wild as I stuck the landing and straightened, throwing my arms up in the air in triumph. I couldn’t stop my grin if I’d wanted to.
“And that’s a strong performance from Alexander Phoenix,” said the announcer. “Waiting to see what the judges think of that!”
I strode off the competition mat to the sound of the announcer being repeated in several other languages. Faith waddled over to me as I hit the bench area. She was in her second trimester. Her face glowed with the same pride that I knew covered my face. I threw my arms around her and tipped her back in my arms, kissing her passionately.
“Yeah! Great job, hotshot,” Sam yelled over the crowd and slapped me on the back.
“Couldn’t have done it without you, old man.”
“You bet your ass you couldn’t!” Sam said with a laugh.
To think I had almost lost everything a couple of years ago. A back injury, a rejected engagement, and a psycho ex that burned down an entire building. Back then, I’d never imagined that such a comeback was possible.
The day I’d married Faith had truly been the best day of my life. She’d never looked so beautiful.
Sam and I had worked hard getting me back into condition. Three months after Faith and I announced our engagement, though, the sponsors had refused to even consider funding a trip to the next qualifier. I’d been sure it meant the end, but an impassioned speech from Sam had made enough of them reconsider. A week later, he got the approval call and I boarded a plane for Sweden.
Hard work and determination had seen me through. I’d claimed the top spot at every qualifier I competed in, but I’d missed so many I was still doubtful that I would have a shot.
I had missed making the Olympic team on rings by a mere five points, but was named as an alternate. That brought Faith and me here to Brazil.
Unfortunately, one of the team members had ended up with the flu and then pneumonia, so I had stepped up in his place.
Whether I won or lost in these Olympic Games, it didn’t matter. I’d proven a comeback was possible. I had shown the country what I was made of and, in that moment, I felt like the luckiest man in the entire world.
And Lily? She had pled guilty to arson at the recommendation of her lawyer. He had argued temporary insanity and had gotten her second degree murder charge dropped to involuntary manslaughter. She was still in prison, but was receiving regular counseling.
“X-Wing! X-Wing! X-Wing!” I realized the crowd was chanting. I stood and spread my arms to them as I waited for the results of my rings event.
The scoreboard lit up.
7.8 + 9.3 = 17.1
The crowd screamed. That placed me firmly in the lead. I waved to the crowd and punched the air in victory, then sat down next to my wife to watch my competitors. It was still anyone’s game. China, in particular, always excelled in gymnastics, but I hadn’t made it easy for them and was thrilled with that score.
I grabbed Faith’s hand and kissed her fingers.
Game on, world, I’m back!
The end.
David S. Scott is a new author of erotica and erotic romance novels. After fishing his debut novels, Deep in You and its sequel Deeper in You, he is moving on to several other projects, including an erotic paranormal tentatively titled Obsidian Angel. He is in his mid-thirties and happily married, and has a bit of a wicked sense of humor. When not writing, David can be found reading a variety of genres or playing “nerd games” like Dungeons and Dragons with his friends. David loves interacting with people and meeting new friends, so please be sure to follow him on his author page:
facebook.com/AuthorDavidScott
Deeper In You (The Phoenix Series Book 2) Page 16