“That was quite a fall you took on floor.Was it your leg, your back again, what?”
“Nothing, just a slip.No damage.”He’d let a trainer check him over at lunch break as ordered, and heaved a sigh of relief when they spotted nothing except new bruises on his hip and forearm.
“I want you to see the physiotherapist tomorrow morning before we start.”
“But I'm fine.”
“Maybe.But all afternoon you were holding back a bit.”
“Not intentionally,” Tyler said in protest.“I mean, I'm sorry, I'll do better tomorrow.”
“I hope so.”The coach looked narrowly at him.“You earned your place here.You were spectacular in the Trials.But the closer I watch you, the more I feel like there's something wrong.I've been watching the films.You favor your left leg a lot.”
“A muscle thing,” Tyler said quickly.“It warms out pretty fast.”
“Mm.You also fall a lot, though.That full-in double wasn't the first time I've seen you completely miss a landing, and I've gone back over the video three times and I can't see the slip on the take-off.”
Tyler winced inside, although he tried to keep his expression calm.He knew they were being recorded, but had hoped nothing would show that the coach could use against him.“I've been thinking I might wear shoes for tumbling instead of bare feet.Might get better traction.”
“That seems like a big change to make just three weeks out from the Games.”
“I wear them for vault.I'm used to them.”The half-lie sat heavy on Tyler's tongue.He’d last maybe thirty minutes before going back to bare on floor, but he wanted to distract Coach Andre.
“All right.Do that.But I still want you to see the physiotherapist.And Bannichek?”
“Yes, sir?”
“Youwilltell me if there is a problem I need to know about?”
Tyler made himself meet his coach's hard stare.After all, this wasn't something the coachneededto know.“Yes, sir.”
Eli was home when Tyler slammed his way in the door.His roommate looked up from dishing himself ice cream and raised an eyebrow.
“Coach wants me to see the physio first thing in the morning,” Tyler grumbled.
“Do I want to know why?”
Tyler didn't know how he could fib to the coach with a straight face, but not even meet Eli's gaze.“Probably not, no.”
“Uh huh.”Eli took his bowl of ice cream to the living room and dropped down onto the battered couch.
Tyler trailed behind Eli and sat beside him.“I do the routines.That's what counts, isn't it?I can throw the big moves in competition when I need them.A slip or two in practice is nothing.The man practically chewed me out for falling.”
Eli sighed and licked his spoon slowly.Tyler's eyes followed the motion of Eli's tongue around the spoon, feeling his whole body come to attention.Dammit, he didn't have time for this either.Not now.Languidly, Eli scooped another spoonful and stroked it over his lips and tongue.Tyler wasn’t sure if he wanted to watch that tongue forever or stuff the damned spoon up Eli’s nose.He really could use a little of the support he used to get from Eli, but he was afraid he was more likely to hear anI told you so.What he couldn’t stand was feeling ignored.
“Aren't you going to say anything?”
“What do you want me to say?Sorry you fell?Glad you didn't fuck yourself up beyond repair,this time?So happy you convinced your coach you don't have a potentially career-ending—scratch that, life-as-we-know-it ending problem?What?”
Tyler shoved himself off the couch.“Never mind.”
“Yeah.You go pop another dozen pills and lie down on some ice and convince yourself you're fine.”
“Everyone competes hurt,” Tyler protested.“Greg is holding his breath hoping that cruciate he blew in his knee last September makes it through the trials.”
“So maybe you're all crazy,” Eli said wearily.“I don't know any more.I'll be out of here soon, if Derek can just scrape together enough cash to fix the brakes on his van.I'm looking forward to that sooo much.Just driving and listening to the radio, and no worries.I really need to get away.”
From me?Tyler hurt deep inside to think Eli would be happier far away from him.But he fucking hated that exhausted look on Eli's face, too.He said tentatively, “We fly to London on the seventeenth.I'd love it if you stayed until then.But I could lend Derek some cash so you could get away after that.”
