The rhythm of the pats and thumps against the pommel horse sped up as his effort accelerated. His legs swung underneath him like a helicopter propeller, barely distinguishable to anyone who might be watching. His long, damp, chestnut hair whipped in unison with each revolution.

His core muscles stayed taut, exposing a rippling landscape of strength, while his firm jaw betrayed a slight smile.

Women would pay to be this pommel horse right now he thought.

In a single moment, Flip Costa pushed with his arms and spun off, twisted his body around and stuck the landing without the slightest wobble. His personal gym was silent, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t receive some adulation.

Ten out of ten he thought.

On top of a pile of clothes, his phone buzzed. But it was always buzzing, to be fair. Who was it this time? Another girl? A business proposal? His mom? She sure did love her little Flippy Phillip, as she always called him.

After wiping the sweet, salty, glistening sweat off his brow, he checked the phone. It was his new employer checking on some nuts and bolts of the hiring process.

Flip Costa was excited for this opportunity to take his skills to the ring, and he wasn’t afraid of the new experience. His gymnastics career might be over, but that didn’t mean he needed to stop doing what he loved.

His close acquaintances warned him that it might change him. If things don’t go well, they were afraid he might become jaded… even go against his nature and bend the rules.

Nope thought Flip.

He wanted the challenge, and he wanted to the crowd to love him. They would love him as much as he loved himself, he was sure of it.

Flip Costa was headed to Memphis.