“So what’s wrong?” she asks again, and I put my head back on the sofa.
“I don’t know,” I answer her honestly. “There is so much going on in my head.” I wish she was here with me. “I don’t know if I’m going to sign with Montreal. I asked Erika about my options.”
“That’s a big step.” Her voice is soft. “You love it there.”
“I know.” I rub my hands over my face. “But I just feel stuck.”
“Well, where is your notebook?” she asks, and I look over at the side table, seeing the notebook. It was something I started when I was thirteen when I had to make a decision on the school I wanted to go to.
“Here,” I say, grabbing it.
“Well, you know what you need to do. Start making your list. Why don’t you come out here? Maybe getting out of the city will be good, and you can have a fresh look at things.”
“I mean, I have nothing stopping me,” I tell her. “I have to bring Mac with me.”
“Oh, my baby.” She claps her hands excitedly. “I’ll go and get her a bed and everything.”
“Okay.” I sit up, finally feeling a little bit of weight lifted off me. “I’m going to go in tomorrow and pack up my locker and then get on a plane to you.” I smile for the first time in a week.
“Sounds good,” she says. “Now I have to go back to my meeting with Wilson.”
“Thank you, for always knowing what to say.”
“It’s a gift. I tell you.” She laughs at her own joke and disconnects with me. I sit here for a minute, the smile still on my face. Whatever happens, it’ll be okay. I turn on my computer and book the plane and make sure I have everything packed by the time I walk out of the house the following morning. I will have to come back and get Mac, but other than that, everything is set.
When I walk into the arena with my bag in my hand, my heart tightens in my chest, thinking this might be the last time I walk in here as a member of the team. Leo is the only one here. “You cleaning out your locker?” I ask. We share a look but don’t say the words, and he just nods his head.
“Yeah, might as well get it over with,” he says, and I nod at him as I start to put the things in my bag. “It feels different.” I just look over at him, nodding.
Usually, we always clean it out at the end of the season, but this time, I make sure not to leave anything behind. Zipping up the bag, I look over at Leo. “Whatever happens,” I say. “It was a pleasure being your brother.” I hold out my hand, and he pulls me to him.
“Want to come hang with me?” he asks when he lets me go. “A couple of friends of mine are in town, and I know a couple of single girls will be there.”
I smile at him. “Nah, I’m going to go visit Alex,” I say, slapping his arm. “Thanks for the invite.”
“See you around, Dylan,” he says, and I sit on the bench for just a minute longer. A tear comes to my eye as the sadness sets in. I wanted to achieve so much here. I wanted to hoist the Cup over my head here. I wanted to do it for the team and for the city. I wanted to do it for my family and me.
I get up, taking one look around before finally walking out, knowing in my heart this really is the last time I’ll be here as a player for the team.
Pulling away from the arena, I watch the building in my rearview mirror until it disappears. Parking my truck in the garage, I walk into the house and change out of my tracksuit and put on jeans and a white T-shirt with my sneakers.
My four suitcases are at the front door with Mac’s leash on it. My phone rings, telling me that my private driver is here. I open the door and start carrying out my bags. He comes over to load them in the Lincoln he is driving. “Let’s go see your favorite person, Mac.” I grab the leash, and she just looks at me. “You want to go see Alex?” I ask, and she looks outside to see if she is there, and her tail starts wagging back and forth.
The plane is waiting for me when we get there, and I step out with Mac, who walks beside me. I wait for her to climb up the steps before walking in. “Welcome aboard, Mr. Stone,” the flight attendant greets, and I just nod at her. “We will be taking off as soon as your bags are loaded.”