#mcdavo

Dylan knew something was up with Connor when he wasn’t playing like he normally did. The Hawks were playing in Edmonton and Dylan and Connor were always happy to see each other again. But, not tonight.

Connor was distant and everyone on the ice knew something was wrong. He wouldn’t talk and there was a vacant look in his eyes that no one had seen before. He couldn’t take or give a pass and he didn’t have a shot on net in the first twenty minutes. He was rough on his edges, and he didn’t use his speed.

Connor was at the game, but he wasn’t inthe game. And Dylan knew that. Dylan knew his friend and he knew that there was something seriously wrong with Connor for him to be acting like that, to be playing as bad as he was.

It was the end of the first period, Connor was on the ice and slowly skating back to the Edmonton bench with his head down. The Oilers and Hawks were making their way down their respected tunnels towards their dressing rooms, but Dylan hopped over the boards and onto the ice before skating towards Connor.

“Davo?” Dylan asked softly, causing his friend to look up.

Connor gave him a small smile and tapped his shin pad with his stick as a way of saying “hi.” That also got one of the linesmen’s attention, who came over to the two of them.

“Let’s not start something, boys.” The linesman told them.

Connor and Dylan both waved him off.

“We’re old teammates.” Connor told him.

“Just catching up.” Dylan added.

The linesman looked between the two of them and skated away, but kept his eye on the two of them in case something did happen.

“Dude, what’s up?” Dylan asked Connor quietly after the linesman had left them alone.

“What are you talking about?” Connor said, almost defeated that Stromer was asking him such a question.

Dylan sighed. “Everyone in this building, anyone watching this game, can tell that your head’s not in it. I’m worried about you, Davo.”

Connor tightened his lips and shook his head. “She left me.” He said after a moment.

Dylan did a double take as he processed the words that came out of Connor’s mouth. “What?”

Connor shrugged. “Yeah. She’s heading to the airport now and…” He shook his head. “She left me, Stromer.”

Dylan moved closer to Connor and patted him on the back. “What happened?”

Connor leaned onto the dasher boards beside him and hung his head. “She said that being in a relationship with me was like being in a relationship with the entire Oilers organization and she couldn’t take the pressure and the constant attacks online or the time and distance anymore.”

Dylan didn’t know what to say, instead he stepped closer to his friend who was bent over the dasher boards in defeat and rubbed his back, leaning onto the dasher boards himself so he could better talk to Connor. “What are you going to do?”

Connor shrugged. “There’s nothing I can do, she left me.”

Dylan sighed. “I thought you loved her?”

Connor looked at Dylan for the first time since the conversation had started. “I love her more than anything.” He said breathlessly.

Dylan felt his lips twitch into a small smile and he shook his head at Connor. “How many years in the league and you haven’t changed a bit, still don’t have a clue how to do anything but hockey…”

Connor furrowed his brows. “What are you talking about?”

“You gotta go after her, Davo. Do the big romantic gesture that proves that what the two of you have is worth fighting for.” Dylan said with a small smile as he shoved his friend gently.

“She’ll be on the plane by the time the game in done.” Connor said, still in defeat.

“It’s intermission man, get out of here. Go get your girl. It’s one game and you’re Connor McDavid, they have to let you go.”

“I can’t just lea—“ Connor started, but Stromer cut him off.

“You’re playing like shit man, it’s for the best that you leave. Tell them you’re sick or twisted your ankle, something like that and go get her.”

Connor pushed himself up onto his forearms and nodded. “Okay.”

Dylan smiled which caused Connor to smile, and he shoved Connor happily. “Now stop talking to me and go get your girl.”