Page 85 of Dreams
“I did too. At first. Every shift, every goal, every win. When I was happy it would make me pissed off. When I was upset, I thought I deserved it. But then it got easier.”
“It had for me too,” she admitted. “Until I saw the same thing happen to the guy I moved on with.”
“I thought Walker was okay,” he said quickly. “That’s what the news has been saying.”
“How…”
“Sarah’s been keeping me filled in on you. Plus, I saw his accident replayed on ESPN like a million times.”
“He’s going to be fine, but it just made me want to be near Danny again. And Sarah. And everyone that seemed to make everything so easy back then.”
“Complications are worth it sometimes.”
The team started heading back to the dressing rooms and Garret stood. “I’ve gotta go.”
Taylor got to her feet and nodded before he suddenly pulled her into a hug. “I’m glad I got to see you,” he whispered. “It’s like having a piece of him here too.”
“Don’t be a stranger,” she said when he released her.
He gave her one last grin before taking the steps two at a time. Taylor followed more slowly. She walked through the lobby with purpose, stepping outside just as it started to rain.
It was light at first, but grew heavier by the second. Taylor stood completely still as the freezing cold rain soaked her clothing.
A laugh bubbled out of her chest and she started running, only wishing that Josh was there beside her this time. She didn’t think she’d ever be able to run in the rain without thinking of him.
She had to go home. She just hoped she hadn’t ruined everything.
The street wasn’t far, and when she reached it, she found Sarah waiting in her car.
The heat was on full blast, and she didn’t think she’d ever been more thankful for anything.
“How’d you know I’d be here?” Taylor asked when her teeth stopped chattering.
“Just had a feeling.” Sarah started driving through the pounding rain. The windshield wipers worked furiously, but they still couldn’t see very far in front of them. “I didn’t want you to have to catch a cab to get back.”
Sarah turned the radio on, and they listened as they made their way back slowly.
“Sarah?” Taylor said after a few minutes.
“Yeah?”
“I’m going home tomorrow.”
“I know,” she said. “Your dad already booked your return ticket.”
* * *
Her dad met her at the airport with a big smile and open arms. Taylor stepped into them and hugged him back.
“I don’t like you being in a different state than me,” he said.
“Except when you leave with the team, which is like always,” she shot back with a sweet smile.
“Touché.”
On the drive home, he asked her all sorts of questions about being back in Portland. It was obvious he missed the place. He loved coaching in the NHL. It was the dream. But at that level, something was lost. He used to say he got to teach his boys to be men. Now he was coaching men, and there wasn’t nearly as much teaching off the ice involved.
His eyes lit up when she mentioned Garret. He’d say he didn’t have favorites, but she knew better. Danny and Garret were basically part of the family.
