Chapter 32
Connor
After hours of coaxing, Casey and Evan convinced Connor to get in touch with Daisy.
Patrick was nice enough to provide Daisy’s phone number since Connor had deleted it.
He tried to reach out to her several times after she’d hung up on him and Patrick.
Hearing the hitch of sadness in her voice broke his heart all over again.
His calls went unanswered, his texts left on read.
The last game of Nashville’s season was in Seattle.
She knew he’d be there. He had plans with Lover and Hazy to go out after the game and celebrate the end of the season.
Seattle wouldn’t be making the playoffs, but Nashville would.
His new team had offered him a contract extension. It was the best deal he was going to get. He couldn’t sign. He’d go to the playoffs with them, but even with Casey and Evan there, Nashville wasn’t home.
Connor still hadn’t heard from Daisy when he boarded the plane for Seattle, despite having reached out to everyone who might be able to put them in touch. Nobody was on his side. Lover and Hazy refused to give him updates or pass on his messages. Connor was glad Daisy had them.
Patrick gave him updates here and there, but Daisy avoided his calls as well.
Roxie didn’t bother picking up for him. He wanted to know so many things.
Would she be at the game? Would she be there for postseason celebrations?
Did she want to tear him to shreds? Patrick had taken care of that for her, but that didn’t mean she didn’t deserve the honor as well.
He didn’t know whether to rush to see her, or avoid her.
The anxiety churning in his gut during the entire flight was torture.
They landed in Seattle a full day ahead of their game.
Connor checked into the hotel and went to Sarah’s house.
Six weeks. The time was so short, yet so long.
He’d been without Daisy for as long as he’d been with her.
Something about those weeks had irrevocably changed his outlook on life, but one thing that remained constant was his love for Sarah and Dylan.
He ordered pizza from their favorite spot on his way over, not caring that it was a Wednesday.
By Friday he would be in Nashville, getting ready for his first playoff series.
The city felt foreign to him now. All the things he’d taken for granted became more enticing.
At Sarah’s house, he knocked on the door rather than walk right in.
Dylan answered, instantly wrapping his little arms around Connor’s legs.
Connor set the pizza on the kitchen table and scooped Dylan into a bear hug.
For the first time in weeks his world seemed a little less broken.
Six weeks was the longest he’d ever gone without Dylan.
Since just hours after his nephew was born, Connor had been there: getting up in the night so Sarah could sleep a little longer, babysitting so Sarah could attend her college courses, doing school drop-off some mornings just because.
Before the trade, the longest they had ever gone was two weeks, for Connor’s longest work trips.
Dylan squirmed in Connor’s arms, giggling and squealing in delight. “Uncle Bean. That’s too tight,” he said, doing some exaggerated panting. “I can’t breathe.”
Connor squeezed the boy harder, twisting his body so Dylan’s legs swung wildly. “How about now? Is this better?” he asked.
Dylan’s peals of laughter had Connor chuckling too. “No! That’s harder!”
Connor set his nephew down, and Dylan tried to open the pizza boxes, but Connor reminded him to wash his hands first. Dylan ran to get washed up for dinner.
Sarah, who had been observing, grabbed drinks from the fridge and rounded the kitchen island to greet him. Her hug was tight and short.
“Hey,” she said.
Connor owed her a hundred and fifty apologies, a hundred of which he’d already communicated to her. He was grateful she cared enough to check in. It was more than he deserved after he’d abandoned her without any notice a few weeks before.
“Hey.” That’s all there was to be said. Connor couldn’t fix the situation. He couldn’t promise he would be home soon, or fix her child care issues apart from offering to pay for it, which she had declined. He could only enjoy the time he did have with his family, while he had it.
They ate their favorite pizza and watched Into the Spider-Verse, and Connor put Dylan to bed, guilty that he didn’t know when the next time would be.
When the house sat quiet and their movie ended, Connor and Sarah sat in the silence together, Sarah’s toe reaching out to rest against Connor’s leg on the couch.
She didn’t like physical affection much, but since they were kids, they’d sit like this.
The familiar gesture calmed Connor’s bitter emotions.
He didn’t want to leave, but Sarah yawned, so he moved to get out of her hair.
Her toe dug into his leg when he tried to stand.
“Wait,” she told him.
So he did. He studied his sister as she struggled to form words. When she did talk again, she said, “You can’t feel bad for being traded. It’s not your fault.”
He swallowed against the lump in his throat. “I know it’s not. It happens sometimes.”
She nodded. “It’s okay that you aren’t here. It’s about time I learn to do this parenting thing on my own anyway; we aren’t your responsibility.”
She didn’t expect him to continue supporting and caring for her and Dylan, but he wished she would. They were his responsibility because he wanted them to be, not because he was obligated.
“You shouldn’t have to do this alone. I planned on always being here for you guys, and I’m not. It sucks.”
Sarah shrugged. “You aren’t my partner, Connor. You’re my brother. This is your career we’re talking about. Do what’s best for you, and we’ll be here, rooting you on no matter where you play.”
He patted her foot where it still rested against his leg. “And I’ll be rooting for you in whatever you do.”
He tried to get up again, but she dug her toes into his thigh again. He swatted her foot. “Goddamn, Sarah. If I wasn’t bruised before, I sure as hell am now, don’t you think I face enough violence at work?”
Sarah rolled her eyes at him. “You need to fix things with Daisy. She’s been a godsend.
She said not to tell you, but she and Hazy and Lover have taken over the childcare you were helping with.
I told them I’d put Dylan in daycare, but they insisted.
They were here for you, not me, but I appreciate them. They care about you.”
This was news to Connor. Hazy hadn’t mentioned it.
“I’m trying. She won’t answer my calls or messages.”
Sarah pulled her foot back, freeing Connor, and said, “You’ll figure it out.”