Chapter 52 Chapter Fifty-Two

Chapter 52 Chapter Fifty-Two
Danny POV

The question hung in the air between us, heavy and accusatory. 

Was I truly letting my team down? Was I putting my relationship with Vanessa above my responsibility as captain?

"The team doesn't blame you," Coach said, his voice gentler now. 

“ Hell I don't blame you,we all know Marco quit on his own. But that doesn't change the fact that we're struggling without him. And if we bomb out in qualifiers, they're going to remember this season as the one that could have been. The what-if season. Is that the legacy you want to leave?"

I thought about my teammates—guys I'd played with for four years, guys who'd become like brothers to me. Dylan and his stupid jokes that kept morale up during tough practices.

Ethan and his quiet reliability. The Booker twins and their competitive banter that pushed everyone to work harder.

They didn't deserve to lose their shot at a championship, lose their shot at getting places in good teams after college because of drama that had nothing to do with hockey.

But neither did Vanessa deserve to be thrown under the bus so I could play nice with someone who'd tried to assault her.

"I'll think about it," I said finally, even though I already knew my answer.

"Don't think too long," Coach said. 

"We're running out of time."

I left his office feeling like I was being pulled in all directions. The locker room was mostly empty by the time I got there—most of the guys had already showered and left. I sat down on the bench and pulled out my phone, staring at the blank screen.

I needed to talk to someone. Someone who would understand the impossible position I was in and maybe give me useful advice. 

I pulled up Vanessa's contact and stared at it long and hard. 

It was wrong to call her because she was directly involved in this but he'll there was no one else, so I hit the call button.

She answered on the second ring.

"Hey, you. How was practice?"

Just hearing her voice made some of the tension in my shoulders ease.

"Terrible," I admitted. 

"Can we talk?"

"Of course," Vanessa said immediately. 

"What's wrong?"

I gave her the abbreviated version—the team struggling, Coach's request to fix things with Marco, the impossible choice between my team and doing what was right.

"That's not fair," Vanessa said when I finished, and I could hear the anger in her voice.

"Coach Bennett is asking you to apologize to someone who hurt me. That's not okay, Danny."

"I know," I said.

"But he's not wrong that the team is suffering. We're going to get destroyed in the qualifiers if we can't pull it together."

"So what are you going to do?" Vanessa asked.

"I don't know," I admitted. 

"I keep trying to find some middle ground, some way to fix this that doesn't involve compromising my principles or letting down my team. But I can't see it."

Vanessa was quiet for a moment, and I could practically hear her thinking.

"What if," she said slowly,

"you talked to the team? Not Marco—the team. Explained the situation, laid out what happened, and let them decide if they want to try to get Marco back."

"I can't tell them what happened," I said immediately. 

"That would mean telling them what Marco did to you, and that's not my story to tell."

"I don't really mind” she mumbled and I huffed 

“ But I do “ 

“Then tell them the broad strokes," Vanessa suggested.

" Let them know that you understand it's affecting the team,and so you'll stick to their decision"

I thought about it, it was risky—the team might turn on me, might decide that I'd chosen a girl over their championship chances.

But it was also honest, and it gave them agency in the decision rather than me making it unilaterally.

"That might work," I said.

"Or it might blow up in your face," Vanessa added.

"But at least you'd be being honest with them. And if they decide they want to try to get Marco back anyway, at least you'll be doing what everyone wants” 

“ Besides, Marco might be sorry about what happened and while I hate him. He was also your friend.” 

"When did you get so wise?" I asked, feeling a smile tug at my lips despite everything.

"I've always been wise," Vanessa said, and I could hear the smile in her voice too. 

"You're just now starting to notice."

"Fair point," I admitted.

Then, because I couldn't keep avoiding it any longer and I really didn't want to, I added, 

"Hey, speaking of things I need to tell you—my parents want us to come to their place for Thanksgiving dinner. Not here in town. Their actual house. In Manhattan."

There was a long pause.

"Manhattan," Vanessa repeated. 

"As in New York City."

"Yeah."

"Your parents live in Manhattan."

"They have a penthouse in Tribeca," I said, feeling weirdly embarrassed about it.

"My mom likes to be close to the art galleries and theater district."

"Thanksgiving," Vanessa said faintly.

"In Tribeca."

"I should have mentioned earlier that my family has money," I said, wincing at how obvious that sounded now. 

“ The more you say, the worse it sounds” she muttered them swallowed 

"Danny, I knew your dad was successful, but I didn't realize—" She stopped, then started again.

"Tribeca. That's like billionaire territory."

"My dad's not a billionaire," I said, then paused. 

"Well, not quite. Close, though."

"Oh my God," Vanessa said. 

"I'm going to have dinner with my almost-billionaire boyfriend in a Tribeca penthouse. I think I'm  going to throw up."

"Please don't " I said.

"My mom would be so disappointed if you threw up on her marble floors."

"This is not helping," Vanessa said, but I could hear the hint of laughter underneath the panic.

"They're just people, Nessa," I said gently. 

"Wealthy people with nice things, sure, but still just people. My mom is going to love you, hell she already does.

“And my dad will... well, my dad will be my dad. But you can handle him."

"Can I?" Vanessa asked. 

"He doesn't like me because of my name and that isn't going to change anytime soon plus  I'm not sure I can handle any of this penthouse, billion dollars business” 

“I'm definitely going to embarrass myself—"

"You won't embarrass yourself," I interrupted. 

"You're brilliant and beautiful and funny, and my mom is going to spend the entire dinner planning our wedding."

"Danny!"

"I'm serious," I said, grinning now. 

"She's probably already picking out color schemes. Alice Glover does not do anything halfway."

Vanessa groaned. 

"This is a nightmare. When is this dinner happening?"

"Like I said Thanksgiving if you can get away from your family” 

“ We'll leave Friday night," I said. 

"We can make a weekend trip out of it—get a hotel, explore the city on Saturday, have dinner Sunday and be back by Monday” 

"A weekend trip to meet your parents," Vanessa said. 

"That sounds totally normal and not at all terrifying."

"It'll be fine," I promised, even though I wasn't entirely sure I believed it myself.

"You keep saying that," Vanessa pointed out. 

“ Just think about it, I didn't agree to anything so I can say no” I muttered just as she hissed 

“ No” 

I paused confused 

“ No as in, you don't want to come” I asked and she huffed 

“ No as in, don't tell her no yet. I'll think about it” she whispered and said nothing else.

"Hey," I said, changing the subject before she could spiral further. 

"Thank you. For the advice about the team. I think I'm going to do it—call a team meeting, lay everything out. See what happens."

"Good," Vanessa said, clearing her throat.

"And Danny? Whatever they decide, whatever happens with Marco and the championship—I'm proud of you for at least standing up for what's right.” 

My chest tightened with emotion. 

"I love you."

"I love you too," Vanessa said.

"Now go talk to your team.” 

After we hung up, I sat there for a moment, staring at my phone. 

Then I pulled up the team group chat and typed out a message.

Team meeting tomorrow before practice. Attendance mandatory.