Return to Us by Julie Cross Read Free Book Online Page B

will Google alert me or whatever.
    I play it cool and reach for my T-shirt on the floor. “Thanks for the tip, but I think I know what I’m doing.”
    “If you say so.” He shrugs and turns to walk away.
    I wait for him to exit the gym and I take off out a different door. I need to get a hold of someone with some Internet connection fast.
    No one is walking down the path on the way to my cabin. Not a single counselor or coach. By the time I’m opening the door, I remember hearing about a party some of the coaches are throwing tonight. I decide to shower before making an appearance.
    ***
    I enter one of the larger cabins with a huge common area. It’s packed full of staff, loud music, and alcohol. Joel, one of the coaches who’s buddies with Jordan, greets me with a grin and slaps a beer in my hand. I flip it open and take a long drink, anxious for something to calm me down.
    Ariel, one of Nina’s gymnasts, is sitting on a couch in the far corner, her hair and makeup all done up. The obvious lines of a padded bra show through her yellow dress. She’s scrolling through her phone, pretending to look busy. Either she wants the males to stay away or else she doesn’t want to feel like a loser sitting alone. My money is on the second one, given her awkward nature.
    But she’s got a phone. A smart phone.
    I head in her direction and take a seat on the cushion beside her. “Nice dress.”
    She looks up, all excited and hopeful. Yep, I was right.
    “Does Nina know you’re here and…” I take the plastic cup from her hand and sniff it, “… drinking Kool-Aid cocktails with the big kids?”
    “Nina’s in Houston,” she says, faking confidence. “Stevie said it would be good for us to socialize.”
    I follow her gaze across the room and spot Stevie, drinking her own cup of Kool-Aid cocktail. Two of the other girls stand on either side of her. I scan the room completely and am surprised to be relieved that the three sixteen-year-olds are nowhere to be found. Ariel is eighteen—veteran age. In the gym, she’s fierce and professional. But here she gives off a much younger vibe. Like a little girl playing dress up.
    I peel my gaze from Stevie and look at Ariel again. “Hey, can I look up something on your phone?”
    “Uh… okay, sure…” She hesitates, squeezing the pink plastic more firmly. I know it’s not because she’s got some secret shit on there or anything. She just doesn’t have a clue what to do with herself if she’s not busy reading her phone.
    “Or you can look it up for me,” I suggest. “I need to see if anyone put my triple back on the Internet. Someone’s been recording Campbell, so it’s possible.”
    “Your triple back is amazing.” She stares at me and I sit there waiting. Anytime now … I lift an eyebrow and nod toward the phone in her hand. She jumps to life again. “Oh right. Okay, sure.”
    She goes to town, fingers flying over the screen. We both wait for the results and then make sure they’re sorted by newest uploads. The first video is from last year’s Junior Nationals. Before I can stop her, she hits play. I have to squeeze my eyes shut halfway. I don’t want to see my stupid-ass easy as hell passes. God, I fucking sucked last year.
    “So nothing new?” I ask.
    “Doesn’t look like it.” She continues scrolling but eventually shakes her head.
    Well, I still don’t know how the weird gym creeper knew about my triple, but at least the whole world doesn’t know yet. I need that element of surprise on my side next month.
    And he’s got to be wrong. There’s no way you aren’t supposed to set a double double up high like a triple back. The higher you jump, the better, right?
    “Hey,” I say to Ariel. “Find me a video of a double double on floor, will you?”
    I chug the beer in my hand and then get up to grab another one before sitting next to her again.
    “Okay,” she says, all businesslike. “There’re a few good ones. I think Stevie’s got the best