He passed it to Rod and then joined his buddies. Celek, Vince, and Leo, all sporting grins, welcomed him into their huddle. They stood together, arms thrown over each other's shoulders as the celebration continued around them.
The realization of a dream, and the teamwork that had got him there, should have left him satisfied.
But something was missing.
His gaze skated once again to the spot where she should have been.
There was a hole in his heart that could only be filled by Blair.
CHAPTER TWELVE
"ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT to go to the Cup parade?" Blair glanced at her dad before turning her car into the football stadium's parking lot. She didn't want to go, but he did, and she couldn't say no when he'd asked her to take him. Even if she really wasn't ready to see Dylan.
"It's not the full parade. They're going to end up at the stadium and give some speeches. I should be there. And you should be too for that matter. You do work for the team."
The knot of nerves in her stomach swelled. "I don't know for how much longer. Peter said the GM wasn't too happy about my letter. The team hasn't liked the negative attention."
"The GM can stuff it. Your phone has been ringing non-stop with interview requests. If he lets you go, something better will come along."
"I'm starting to look, just in case. I'm not sure I want to be there anymore anyway." She climbed out of the car and slammed the door.
"Does your decision have anything to do with Dylan?"
"I don't really want to talk about him."
"Why not? I know you're upset."
Breath came out in a huff that didn't fully release her frustration. "It's more than just Dylan."
"But he's a part of it."
"You don't understand—"
Dad held up his hand as they walked. "I think I do. You don't want him to end up like me. But sweetheart, there's no guarantee he will."
"He's had all those concussions so close together. And then he played in game four anyway. Did you see him? He didn't look right." Picturing his face wincing in pain and his slower pace, something in her chest squeezed.
He reached for her arm as his footing faltered. "All I know is I would've played if I were him. Yes, he took a risk, and yes, it might not have been the smartest thing, but twenty years down the line, if he didn't play, he would always regret it. Trust me on that."
"I guess..."
They joined the crowd by the stage that had been set up in the middle of the football field, but Dad didn't let the swell of people stop him from talking. "Take what you're doing with the concussion protocol. You want to see changes and you're not backing down. It's not so different. You're both going after things that matter to you. Yes, his has a higher risk of bodily injury, but none of us are guaranteed a tomorrow, let alone another twenty years."
"I know."
They made their way to the front section, and the folding chairs that had been reserved for the team's alumni members. "You should talk to him now that you both aren't so caught up in the drama of the moment. If you love someone, you'll make compromises for each other."
And when she looked at it through that lens, she had to rethink everything. He'd wanted this moment, the Cup win, ever since he'd been a little kid. Quitting on that dream so close to reaching it... she could see why he didn't. But she wanted him to realize the damage he'd already suffered to his body, and the dangers of playing when he clearly wasn't well.
"If winning the Cup once wasn't enough, if he decides to keep playing, I don't know if I could deal with that."
"That's why you talk to him. He needs to listen to your concerns too."
Dylan's father waved from his seat in the section. She returned the wave and her stomach clutched when he stood and headed her way.
Smiling, he extended his hand. "Good to see you, Blair."
"You too, Colin."
Then he bent and hugged her dad. "Glad you could make it today, old friend."
"I wouldn't miss it." Dad grinned and clapped him on the back.
Colin stood again. "Blair, I read your letter."
Uh oh.
"And you made a number of good points. I've expressed my support of it to the team and to my contacts in the league."
The vise gripping her stomach eased. "Wow. Thank you."
"We need to be doing more, and we need to be doing better. Not just for my boys, but for all the players." He leaned down again. "But I do want to thank you for all of the care you've given Dylan. You're good for him. I'm glad he has you in his corner. You'll have to come to the next family breakfast. They're a lot bigger now that Rod has Arielle and Kelsey has Leo, but there's a spot at the table for you too. I told Dylan last night that he should bring you."
"I... Thank you. But, I..." How did she tell him that she and Dylan weren't seeing each other anymore? And why hadn't Dylan informed him of that last night?
"He said he'd talk to you about it." He glanced at the stage. "I'd better get back to my seat. They're about to start."
He patted her shoulder and then walked away. She stared after him. Dylan had said he'd talk to her?
All of the players filed on and stood in two groups. After the GM and Coach LeClair spoke, Dylan commanded the microphone. He looked good in dark jeans and a black t-shirt. "For the past few years, this team had been building toward this moment. Everything we did, every move we made, brought us one step closer toward bringing home the Cup. We can't thank you, the fans, enough for all of your support."
He raised the Cup above his head.
