Only One Forever (Only One 8)

“That’s not a surprise,” he says, and it shocks me. “I’d be surprised if you didn’t meet with him. How did it go?”

“It went great. He asked me about what I was looking for, and of course, he didn’t bullshit me and tell me he would deliver the world on a platter. But he did say he would fight with us.”

“He’s a solid guy. His team is solid also.” He breathes out heavily. “Fuck, I’m not going to like playing him next year if you join the team.” His voice goes soft. “Can you imagine you playing on the same line as Cooper and Michael?” I can’t help but smile. The best times I have are during the summer when we get back from vacation and we all train together. We get on the ice, and it’s just magical. “Fuck, no one is going to be able to stop you.”

“It’ll be easy for everyone with one jersey,” I joke. “Instead of everyone having a different jersey.”

“What about you?” he asks. “Forget about what everyone is telling you or what the press is saying. Forget about the outside noise.” His voice goes soft. “What does your heart tell you to do?” he asks the loaded question.

“I have no idea. I always thought I would retire in Montreal, so I never ever imagined being in this position. But something changed along the way, and I don’t know how to describe it,” I confess as my head laughs at me. “I have this itch to settle.” The words come out before I can stop them.

“Were you not settled in Montreal?” He asks the same question I’ve asked myself since I started feeling out of sorts.

“I was, but something was missing.” I tap the steering wheel with my finger, pulling over when I see a flower shop. “I don’t know what to do, Dad.”

“It’s a big, big decision,” he tells me. “And it isn’t one that you should make lightly.”

“I’m afraid to take the step, and then my game suffers for it,” I admit.

He laughs at me. “Dylan, you are in the prime of your career. Top scorer in the whole league every year and that’s with not that great of a team behind you.”

I sit here listening to what my father says. “Don’t rush into anything. Sit down with as many people as you think you need to sit down with.” He clears his throat. “Especially the new coach in New York.” I laugh at his subtle push. “But no matter where you go, it’ll be a challenge.” I think about what he is saying. “But if anyone is up for that challenge, it’s you.”

“Thanks, Dad,” I say softly. “I needed this.”

“I’m going to let you go so I can call Erika again and demand a sit-down,” he says, and I laugh.

“I’ll see you in four days.” I get out of the car. “We can talk in Hawaii.”

“Fuck no.” He shakes his head. “That’s my vacation. I’m not doing anything on that except spending time with my family.”

I laugh, walking into the flower shop. “Fine.” I look around. “We’ll see.”

“Love you,” he says as always, right before he hangs up.

“Love you, too. Say hi to Mom.” I disconnect the call with him as the lady behind the counter asks if she can help me.

I grab a bouquet of peonies, and she wraps them up for me in brown paper. I walk out of the shop and send Alex a text.

Me: Headed home. I’ll start dinner.

It’s only after I send the text do I sit here and look down at it. Headed home. The flutters start in my stomach as I think about when I first started to get the feeling something was missing. It’s only after I start playing the months over in my head that I realize it came right after Alex told me she was moving to Dallas.

I start driving toward the house, my head reeling over the fact that before she moved to Dallas, I was okay. Before she took that leap and finally made her decision to start planting her roots, I was fine. Everything was fine before, or was it?

Pulling up to the house, I grab the flowers and walk inside, the cold air hitting me right away. “Hello!” I shout out just in case she is home, but she isn’t. I hear Mac running from upstairs and look that she came out of her room. “Did you make a mess in there?” I ask, and she comes to me as I bend and hug her neck. “Let’s get you outside.” I open the back door, and she steps outside.

Turning around, I search for a vase to put some water in and then place the pink peonies in the middle of her island. I take my phone out and see that she hasn’t even answered me back, which is weird. Mac scratches at the back door, and I walk over and let her back in, bending to fill up her water bowl with fresh water.