Execution (2020 Ed)

by Lucia Franco

  "I don't want to talk about it anymore," I said before nestling into his warmth.

  "Adrianna," he said softly, and I snuggled further into him in a silent plea for him to drop the conversation.

  I shook my head and sniffled. "I don't know what to say. I fucked up."

  Another tear slipped down my cheek and I closed my eyes again. I needed to stop crying but I didn’t know how.

  Hayden palmed my jaw, lifting my face up to his. Our eyes met. I'd only known him for a short amount of time, but he was proving to be a better friend than even Avery.

  Avery. Another situation I didn't want to think about.

  My jaw trembled. I’d been so hurt by the few people I truly cared about. I had no one left but Hayden, and luckily, I knew he'd never let me down.

  "Come on, Aid. This isn’t you. This isn’t the girl I know. You fought to qualify for elite. Sweat, blood, tears, and maybe a little too much Motrin has gone into you achieving your goal. Everything you’ve worked so hard for will be gone in the blink of an eye because you let this dickhead ruin you. Don’t let him strip you of your dream. You’re better than this."

  He was right.

  "Talk to me. Let me in." Desperation tinged his voice. "What is it you need from me? Whatever it is, it's yours. Let me help you get past this."

  I stared over Hayden’s shoulder. The thing was, I didn’t want to talk, didn’t want to utter a word. I didn’t want him to know the real truth behind why I was so upset.

  That would require admitting that I loved Kova, and I’d never admit that out loud. Ever.

  Acknowledgments

  To my husband who became both parents to our boys and took over our home so I could finish this book. Actions speak louder than words, and you showed how much you support my writing without saying a word and picking up my slack. Your support means the most to me. Thank you for never complaining and actually encouraging me to get on my laptop to write more.

  Nadine Winningham, friend and editor, I love that we can keep both aspects separate and remain so close. You took this monster of a story that I was panicking about and styled it into what I envisioned. I can never thank you enough for the time and effort you put into editing my books.

  Dessure Hutchins, thank you just isn’t enough to show my gratitude. You stepped in and became my second hand so I could write this book. You brainstormed with me and dealt with the crazy ideas that came to me for this series, listened to me vent, and read everything I wrote on the fly. I’m forever grateful for all the help you so selflessly gave to me. More importantly, you became my lifelong friend, and that means the most to me.

  Jill Mac, I'm not sure how after everything, but you heard my cry for help and swooped in like an angel with horns on your magic carpet and saved me at the eleventh hour. If that isn't a real friendship, I don’t know what is. I can't thank you enough for everything that you did, for settling my nerves, for putting all my promo stuff together, and for dealing with my antics.

  Amber Hodge, I hope you know you're stuck with me for life. Thank you for listening to me—and brainstorming with me—over the wild storyline that sometimes made your jaw drop. I won't ever forget your text messages…lol. Your knowledge of the written word is priceless, but more importantly, so is our friendship. Thank you!

  Alyssa, you're my favorite lunatic. You've been by my side since the beginning reading every word I write and giving me honest and blunt feedback that we laugh over. Thank you for everything. I can't wait until this summer to sit on a beach with you and do nothing but take in the waves and bake in the sun!

  Lori Scaman, once again, thank you so much for answering every question I had about gymnastics and double checking what I wrote. There's no way I could've made the continuation of this series possible without you. Down to where every meet is, to the fine details of each skill, to the inside secret look you have of the sport we love so much. I owe you so much!

  Lucy Taylor for helping me translate my words into Russian. You were always willing to help any time of the day to make sure I got it just right. Thank you so much! You helped make Kova authentic and real.

  Lisa Kitko and Carolina Leon, thank you both for reading Execution in its early, extremely embarrassing first stage. You both gave me priceless feedback and put up with random chapters you pieced together to get a general idea.

  To the readers, thank you so much for being patient with me while I finished this book. I never expected anyone to actually like Balance—I know it's not everyone's cup of tea—and seeing you want more is so humbling. The messages, the emails, the comments, the fanmade teasers, they all have a special place in my heart. Thank you for showing me it was okay to write this story, and for loving it so hard. You guys rock!

  About Lucia

  Lucia Franco resides in sunny South Florida with her husband, two boys, and two adorable dogs that follow her everywhere. She was a competitive athlete for over ten years – a gymnast and cheerleader – which heavily inspired the Off Balance series.

  Her novel Hush, Hush was a finalist in the 2019 Stiletto Contest hosted by Contemporary Romance Writers, a chapter of Romance Writers of America. Her novels are being translated into several languages.

  When Lucia isn't writing, you can find her relaxing with her toes in the sand at a nearby beach. She runs on caffeine, lavender lemonade, scorching hot sunshine, and four hours of sleep.

  She's written nine books and has many more planned for the years to come.

  Find out more at authorluciafranco.com.