As soon as she gets up on the bar, her body relaxes in a way that doesn’t seem possible, given the complexity and skill needed to flip around so effortlessly. There’s a confidence and ease in every movement. She’s almost smiling as she goes. Moving from the higher bar to the lower and back. It’s a thing of beauty, truly.
I don’t even have time to be nervous. I’m too awestruck. When she dismounts and lifts her arms up, she’s beaming. That’s my fucking girl.
She keeps that smile wide as she glances at me and Wren, then runs off the floor, hugs her coach, and then Kinsley. Her other teammates wait in line, each congratulating her with high fives or hugs.
She puts on her jacket and takes a drink of water, followed by a drink of her brand-new sponsor’s sports drink, which our fridge is now filled with and is thankfully delicious, while she waits for her score.
Wren and I go back to pretending we aren’t both freaking out. She did the damn thing but now we have to wait for the judges.
The seconds tick by excruciatingly slowly before the announcer’s voice comes over the speaker, “Hannah Bennett-Walsh. 14.300.”
Wren gasps and we both stand. It’s Hannah’s best score of the day and firmly keeps her in that top spot. She shares a few more hugs with those close to her, and then she’s moving toward me. Running to me, actually. Running and smiling, exactly how I pictured it.
My heart squeezes in my chest as I wait for her. When she reaches me, her arms go around my neck and she clings to me like I’m the only thing holding her up. I would hold her up if that’s what she needed. And she’d do the same for me. But today she doesn’t need me, or anyone else. And I’m just happy to witness her achieving her dreams.
“I did it! I won.” She’s breathless and her voice wavers like she’s on the verge of tears.
“I’m so proud of you. That was unreal.” I hold the back of her neck and breathe her in. Her heart pounds rapidly against my chest.
She pulls back far enough to look me in the eye. “I’ve never been that locked-in before. I could see it. Every skill. Every tinydetail. And when I looked over, and you and Wren were cheering me on, it was perfect.”
She lets go of me to hug an impatient Wren.
“Oh my god. You were incredible!” Wren screams.
They rock side to side as they continue to embrace.
“Thank you for coming,” Hannah tells her sister.
“Are you kidding?” Wren asks when they break apart. “Of course. Someone had to keep this guy from having an anxiety attack.” She tips her head toward me.
“Oh, I’m the one that was crashing out?” I ask, disbelief laced in my tone. Bratty little sister. God, I love her.
Hannah laughs. “I have to get back, but…” She stops talking and throws herself into my arms again.
After the final competitors have gone, the award ceremony happens in the center of the floor. Hannah stands in the center, and when they call her name, “Hannah Bennett-Walsh,” she looks right at me.
EPILOGUE
HANNAH
“To Trav!” Danny holds up his glass.
Everyone at the table joins in, echoing the sentiment and clinking their glasses together. Travis’s teammates and friends all made the trip, as well as some of their wives and girlfriends. It’s a bigger group than last year but seeing so many people love on my man makes me deliriously happy.
“And to the Bennett-Walshes!” Trav exclaims. “One year today.”
“To the Bennett-Walshes!” Ruby is the first to chime in, the rest follow.
We’re sitting at the same club in Vegas as we did last year on his birthday. It feels like yesterday…at least what I can remember.
“Happy birthday,” I say next to him, cuddling up to his side. He has one arm around my shoulders and his leg presses into mine beneath the table.
“Thanks, baby.”
“I have something for you.”
“Yeah? You got me a present?” The unfiltered excitement he lives every day with is one of many things I love about Travis. He never holds back.
