I shake my head. “You don’t understand what this means. All that work… The Olympics were everything. My wholefuture-”
My phone pings again, catching up. A new email, sent yesterday.
From… theBritishArchery Federation?
My brows knit. “Wait,” I breathe, opening it.
The message is short. Crisp as the outside air.
We heard about the situation. We’re sorry this happened to you.
We note you carry dual British and American citizenship. If you’re willing, we’d like you to consider training with GB Archery for the next Olympic cycle. Three years. Full support. Full funding.
We’ve seen what you can do, and we’d be lucky to have you.
I stare, open mouthed.
Nate tilts my chin toward him. “Good news?”
“I - yeah?” I whisper. “I could represent Great Britain. Mum’s British, and I have dual citizenship. I’m saved.”
His eyes light up, and he kisses my temple.
“But I’d need to move.”
The reality hits both of us at the same time.Move.
As in, emigrate.
The word sits between us like a dropped glass.
“You want that?” he asks softly.
I swallow. “I don’t know yet. But… it’s an incredible offer. Saves my ass entirely. And it means my Olympics career is still alive, just deferred. It feels like a door opening instead of closing.”
He nods slowly, absorbing it, eyes unreadable. “Then you should take it seriously.”
“You’re not upset?”
“Ally.” He cups my jaw gently, his gaze softening. “You think I’d want to keep you from something you worked your whole damn life for?”
I stare at him, throat tight.
He brushes a thumb along my cheekbone. “Tell me what else you’re thinking.”
I hesitate. “You’re in LA.Yourcareer isthere.”
He shifts, sits straighter, meets my eyes with something unexpected, hopeful and scared at once. “Actually… I’ve been thinking about something. It’s what I came here to consider in the first place.”
“What?”
He draws a breath. “I want to do theater.”
I blink. “Like… plays?”
“Yeah.” A half-smile. “Remember when you said I had a better ear for Shakespeare than my dad? I never forgot that. I loved theater in school. And I’ve been thinking a lot about breaking away from the Woodruff-brand roles. I want to try something that isn’t guns and horses for once.” Nate shrugs. “I have contractual obligations, sure, but that’s only part of the year. The rest… I could chase my own dreams. For real this time.”
My heart does something dangerous at the possibility of not having to choose between Nate, my new love, and my chance at Olympic gold.
