I forgot to breathe.
Then the total score flashed beneath it.
223.82.
Silver.
The arena erupted again.
Mila made a strangled sound beside me that turned instantly into laughter before she threw both arms around my neck. I held her while applause crashed through the arena around us and camera flashes exploded across the Kiss and Cry.
Silver.
Olympic silver.
I could feel Mila shaking with adrenaline and relief against me while Sokolov leaned forward, both hands braced against his knees before he gave a sharp, satisfied nod.
“You see?Thatis what happens when you trust yourselves.”
Mila was crying now, and I held her tightly before she pulled back, laughing through her tears.
“We did it.”
“We did.”I searched the arena, scanning the faces.
I found Dean almost immediately.
He was standing. Pride shone openly across his face, unguarded and impossible to miss. For a moment the noise faded beneath the simple certainty of that expression.
Then the arena rushed back into focus. Cameras. Officials. Flags.
For years those things had felt immovable.
Tonight they looked different.
Smaller.
“Representingthe United States of America… Nathan Cole and Brooke Ellis.”
As the applause echoed around the arena, I watched Nathan and Brooke, who were glowing as the bronze medals were placed around their necks.
Nathan caught me looking and nodded, grinning.
I mouthedCongratulations, and his grin widened. Brooke accepted her flowers, leaning into Nathan, visibly overwhelmed.
Then it was our turn.
The silver medal sat heavy against my chest. I’d imagined this ceremony a thousand times as a child, the flags rising, lights blazing, the anthem swallowing the arena whole. The reality felt strangely distant, as though I were watching someone else stand on that podium.
Beside me, Mila stood perfectly still, a bouquet clasped in gloved hands, her chin raised with that grace she carried even when exhausted. The applause seemed to last forever.
Then Japan stepped up, and the crowd roared even louder.
I took a moment to locate Dean. He stood at the boards, flankedby Ethan and Noah, and his coach was there too, along with the rest of the US team.
My heart pounded, my palms suddenly clammy.
We stood still as the anthems played, my head held high as music floated up to the rafters and flashes burst bright enough to bleach the edges of my vision white.
