Kova squatted down in front of me and put his hands on my knees. "I am trying here, Ria, I really am. Let me be here for you as your coach right now, and nothing more."

"You don't see that this is more than what a coach does, Kova," I whispered. "I'm trying to keep more from happening. We were almost caught by Katja for Christ sake. I think we should take that as a warning, don't you?"

"I see your point, but with coaching you in the nature that I am, it brings more responsibility on both our parts. For you not to properly take care of yourself afterward physically hurts me. You will cause more damage to your body in the end. Let me help."

When I didn’t immediately answer, he dropped his head and rubbed the scruff on his jaw.

I released a sigh of frustration, then tapped the underside of his bicep. I put my hand out when he looked up. He didn’t hesitate, he took my hand and stood, helping me up in the process.

"Would you like for me to turn around as you get in?"

I stared at the ice cubes sloshing back and forth. "I’m not taking my clothes off, so no, you don't have to."

I sat on the side of the tub and dipped my toes into the frigid water. A chill zipped up my spine. I pulled them out and huffed out a breath. I couldn't go slow, so I took a deep breath and braced myself. Squeezing Kova's hands, I counted to three, then I placed both feet in and sank down. I yelled out, gasping as the water came up to my neck and slipped over the ledge. A shiver tore through me and my teeth began chattering instantly. The urge to pee hit hard.

"Jesus H Christ! I hate this!"

Kova sat on the toilet lid and placed his elbows on his knees. He swiveled my way. "It is a little price we have to pay that will go a long way. Trust me."

I scowled at him. "Easy for you to say. You're not sitting in negative temperatures right now."

"Do not exaggerate. That is roughly ten degrees."

"Same shit, Kova," I spat. "How long do I need to be in here for?"

He glanced down at his watch. "I would say fifteen minutes will do just fine."

My eyes popped wide. I made it to eight minutes with Hayden. There was no way I would last that long. Fuck my life.

"While you are in there," he said, clasping his hands together, "I think now is a good time to talk to you about your future in gymnastics outside of the Olympics."

My eyebrows bunched together. "My future outside the Olympics? You already know what I want, Kova. I don't understand."

"Have you considered college yet?"

I pursed my lips together and pulled up my knees. My nipples were aching. "Well, no. I still have a few years ahead of me before that."

"Not necessarily. It is important you know your options. Have your parents not discussed this with you? You can continue your education as well as gymnastics."

"No." My lips were turning numb. "My mom thinks this is just a hobby to pass time. And my dad is wrapped up in his business. Neither of them have brought up college."

He observed me quietly for a moment. "Your brother is in college, yes? How did that happen?"

"Yes, but no one talked to him about it, not that I can remember anyway. He's at the University of Florida. He basically went where his friends went."

Kova's forehead puckered and his mouth set in a hard line. "This is important for your career and something you should be aware of. Say you make a splash in the gym world and people start to recognize you. You make it to the World Championships or another international event and you place on the podium. From time to time, you will have the option to accept award money or endorsements. It is not a whole lot, but if you accept either one, you forfeit your eligibility to compete in college." He angled his body toward me. "It means you are going pro. But what happens if you go pro, and then, God forbid, you are injured before or after the Olympics? Your career as an Olympian is pretty much over; however, if you do not go pro, your career as a collegiate gymnast is not. I want you to be aware of that."

"But I want to go pro, Kova. I want to reach the highest level of this sport. I'm confused. I thought you understood that."

He shook his head. "You are misunderstanding me. I know what you want completely. I know it is to go to the Olympics, I just want you to think about college gymnastics too. You can still compete in college and go to the Olympics at the same time. It is accepting the prizes and endorsements that will change everything. Taking money means no collegiate gymnastics. Ever."

"So you are saying not to take prize money," I confirmed.

"I would never tell you what to do or what direction to take. I just want you to be informed."

Kova's cell phone rang and he slipped it out of his pocket. A slight sneer pulled at his mouth before he declined the call and put it back. It had to be Katja.

I looked at the chunks of ice in front of me and mused over what Kova said, thankful he was taking the time to explain this. I'd forgotten I was in the tub while having this discussion, and the moment I looked down at the water a shiver ripped through me. I squeezed my toes. I wasn't aware of this caveat in the sport. My head was as misty as the frosty air elevating around me. If I accepted a prize, I couldn't compete in college…

But the real question was, did I want to compete in college? I'd never given it a thought until now.

"Well, I clearly don't need the money, so I feel like it's an obvious choice."

He raised his index finger, indicating he wasn’t finished. "You would think that, but what if an agent comes along and wants to sign you? Says she will put you in commercials and billboard ads with other top gymnasts around the country?" he challenged. "What if she promises she can make you an abundant amount of money, where you will be able to support yourself within a year and even pay for college should you not be awarded a scholarship? Because surely you will want to support yourself eventually, yes?"

I chewed my lip. Okay. He had a point. And I was upset with myself for being so in the dark about it.

"Of course I want to support myself one day." I stared at him, not knowing what I should do. Not relying on my parents would be a dream come true, and if I could build that from doing what I loved, the choice was obvious.

Kova threaded his fingers together. "You have a small period until the awards start coming in. I want you to use this time wisely and look past the Olympics. Think about universities. Now is the time to get noticed, to get recognized by a Division One school. Maybe you will. Where do you see yourself in ten years? Surely not competing at twenty-six. I want you to give it some thought."

I chuckled. "Well, no. I don't think my body will make it that far. I thought maybe I'd coach. I don't know…obviously something in gymnastics."

I frowned and studied the sea glass tiled wall in front of me. Beautiful shades of pale greens and ocean blue swooped in between hues of creamy whites. I had been so focused on going all the way that I lost sight of my future in the long run. I was mature, I had a stable head on my shoulders, but when it came to the real world, I was as blank as a sheet of paper. I suddenly felt like a two-inch-tall fool.

"Did you plan to compete in college? Or no?"

"I… I never gave it any thought." My voice quieted. The corners of my mouth tugged further down, embarrassed it never crossed my mind. I glanced at him. "I was so fixated on making it to the Olympics that I never considered anything else."

"That happens more than you think. It is not uncommon. If for some reason you do not make it within the year, come the next Games, you will be about twenty."

"Yeah…" I mumbled. I already knew that.

"Did you plan to skip school altogether?" he asked gently, no hint or rise in his voice to make me feel any less.

I shrugged, feeling helpless. "I just assumed I'd train as hard as I could until then, and then figure out my next course. It was honestly all I knew. I didn't see myself not going to the Olympics, it's not an option to me."

I looked away and shifted my legs to a more comfortable position. Cubes of ice nudged my shoulders and neck and I drew in a gasp. The conversation with Kova made me completely forget I was sitting in ice. My sole focus had been on something else entirely, which helped pass the minutes in the bathtub, yet it brought an overwhelming burden at the same time.

My teeth chattered against each other as I said lowly, "But if I did that…then I'd be close to graduating and it would be too late to apply for college. I'd have to miss a year." I looked up, astonished. "You're right. It is something I need to think about. God, I've been really naive, haven't I?"

"My two cents?" he offered.

"Go ahead."

"Forget about the endorsements and prize money, do not turn pro. You can go all the way without it. You do not need it. At least not for a long time anyway. Instead, look at colleges, mainly Division One schools with a top-ranking gymnastics team, because you are that good. Just be in the know, it cannot hurt you. If you play your cards right, you can have the best of both worlds."

I nodded, feeling an abundance of emotions for Kova, but more grateful than anything for this talk. I sat staring into his eyes and wondered if this topic would've ever crossed my mind. Eventually, I think it would have, just not as soon, and probably too late.

Kova studied me, then rolled his broad shoulders and dropped his head. He rubbed the back of his neck and kept his gaze engrossed on my tile floor. Hopefully there weren't a million strands of hair everywhere.

Against my better judgement, I reached out and placed my hand over his and squeezed. He jumped and his head popped up. My frozen fingers shocked him.

I smiled softly, appreciative. It was all I could manage between the shivers that wracked my body. Just when I thought he was going to pull away or say something for showing affection, he stunned me and gave me a squeeze back. My stomach twisted. I didn't want to feel anything for him, but I couldn't help it when he pierced me with those emerald eyes of his. I'd let my guard down…and so had he.

Kova turned his wrist over and glanced at his watch. He hadn't let go of my hand in the process.

He cleared his throat. "Look at that… Time is up."

I pulled the stopper on the drain while Kova went to find a towel. I shivered violently as I stood there listening to the water slurp down. Stepping out of the tub, I hugged myself, certain I would develop hypothermia if Kova didn’t hurry up. Every muscle in my body squeezed and my teeth chattered nonstop. Talk about tightening up. Kova walked in with a towel and shook it out, then halted when he looked up. His jaw locked, his eyes slowly roamed my wet body.

I glanced down and gaped.

Shit.

My white sports bra was practically transparent. I might as well have been naked. My breasts were firm and round, plump from the artic temperature. My nipples were embarrassing hard little mauve pebbles enclosed by rings the color of raspberries.

I was throwing all my white undergarments out after this.

"Ah, Kova?" I reached out for the towel. When he didn't respond, I yelled his name. "Kova!" His eyes snapped up to meet mine. "I'm going to die of hypothermia. Give me the goddamn towel!"

Kova grumbled in Russian. "I apologize." He held the towel open and looked away. Without a second thought, I gripped the hem of my sports bra and ripped it up and over my head, then yanked down my shorts and stepped out, leaving them in a messy wet ball on the floor. Goose bumps trailed across my frigid flesh. I hugged myself and stepped into Kova's outstretched arms.

"Hold me tight, please," I whispered into the warmth of his neck.

Kova wrapped his strong arms around my back and pressed me to the length of his body as I rested my head on his chest. He moaned under his breath and I felt the vibration in his chest. I reveled in the warmth of his body. "I like when you need me like this," he whispered, low and warm, and I felt it. His arms tightened, fingers pressing into me as he stepped closer to close the distance. My teeth continued to chatter, my entire body wouldn’t stop shaking, and I nearly groaned in misery when the air conditioner flicked on above my head. Chilly air floated across my shoulders and I winced, hunching closer to him.

"Shhh…" he said against my head. "It will pass."

"The…air…" My voice was muffled. Kova glanced up and spotted the air vent.

"Let me get you out of here," he said, then scooped me up and cradled me to his chest. He was so broad and wide that if I curled my body tight enough I could fit from shoulder to shoulder. I eyed the pulsing vein in his neck that was glazed in a sheen of perspiration as he carried me out of the bathroom. I snuggled closer to his warmth and sighed in content.

Kova kept his focus straight ahead while he carried me to my room. He flipped the light switch, and in two steps, he was at the side of my bed. With one hand, he pulled back the comforter and carefully deposited me. He brought the comforter to my neck, all while looking at my headboard. Not me.

"Turn off the fan, please," I begged, already missing his body heat. Kova did as I asked then left the room without making any sort of eye contact with me. I frowned as I listened to the water trickling in the next room and realized he was wringing out my sopping wet clothes. I heard some more shuffling that sounded like he was in my living room. I wasn't sure what he was doing. All I knew was that I felt like he was avoiding me.

Note to self: Strip naked in front of Kova if you want him to ignore you.

I shook my head and curled up in a ball on my side. My only concern now was to get warm, not Kova's precious cracking resolve.