“Not yet,” Gio told me, and again that fire of anticipation roared in my chest. “We haven’t found the right partner. We want someone who understands and is committed to our vision, and who can be in it for the long haul.” That should’ve been my cue to say that I was based in New York and had to be back there in weeks, but my ass stayed planted to the chair.

“What’s the long-term vision for this?” Even I heard the thirst in my voice when I asked the question.

Both men grinned wide before Gio responded. “If this one goes well, we want to keep building them, first here in Texas then other parts of the country.”

Next to me Dani whistled in surprise.

“We also would love to launch something similar for former elite athletes.” That statement was the last push I needed to jump head first into the deep end.

“Tell me more.” They had every ounce of my attention now.

“We’d like to have services and some amount of housing for athletes who have been permanently injured or impacted by the sport, same idea in terms of services.” I knew guys like that from my time in swimming. Who had messed up their shoulders, their backs, after years of driving their bodies harder than anyone ever should and were left with just a few medals as compensation.

“I want in,” I blurted out impulsively. I knew that this was not as simple as saying yes, that there would be serious adjustments I’d have to make in my life to make this work. I still wanted it though. I wanted to do work I felt proud of. A mission where my own values and the things that were important to me were part of the equation.

Ivan leaned in and clapped me on the shoulder, a big grin on his face. “We know you’re based in New York right now, so there’s probably a lot to think through, but if you are up for it, we’d love for you to be a part of making this happen with us.” I kept my mouth shut, because I wanted to jump in and this was not how I did things. I had to think this through, no matter how much my gut told me this project could be the future of my professional life. “We have the land and we have the vision, but we won’t be moving forward with breaking ground until the summer. We can give you some time to think about it.” That was in three months.

“If you want we can go to the site next week,” Ivan offered, and again my heart decided for me before my common sense could get his two cents in.

“Yeah, I’d like that. What you two are doing is great, man. I really respect it.”