After just one year, Dakota was known as one of the best shutdown centers in the league. His tenacious, dependable play made him one of Coach Miller’s workhorses. Best of all? His play allowed therestof the team to excel at their jobs, which is what made the Sin one of the very best teams in the league, all year long.
Hockey fans, media, even Dakota’s own teammates have been utterlyflabbergastedby his transformation this season.
Me? Well, I won’t say I saw it coming, because I don’t think anyone could’ve predicted how successful he’d be. But once Dakota proved to me he was willing to do the work to be a better person, I knewhe had a lot of potential to become something special—both on and off the ice.
And for as amazing as Dakota has been on the ice this year? He’s beentwiceas amazing off the ice.
Let’s be real: when you’re dating a pro athlete, you do so knowing that they’re always on the road, where other girls will be trying to steal them away, if only for a single night. That’s scary enough as it is—but dating an athletelong distance,too?
I trusted him, of course; I wouldn’t have dated him if I didn’t. But after learning how Leo and Dad had both betrayed and manipulated me, I think it’s understandable that I’d have some lingering trust issues.
Dakota never gave me any reason to worry, ever. He was nothing but sweet and reliable the entire time we were apart. We talked at least once, every single day. When I first headed out to school, I was so sad, because I felt like I’d be lucky to see Dakota more than three times during the semester …
Whew,boy, am I ever happy to report that I was way, way off on that estimate!
It took approximatelythree daysbefore Dakota and I missed each other so bad, he flew up to Stanford to see me. We only had ten hours together before he had to fly back and return to the team—but trust me, we made the most of our half-day together. We holed ourselves up in my bedroom, ordering take-out, making out, cuddling, and screwin’ until the sun came up.
Of course, ten hours flew by in the blink of an eye.
“I gotta get back to Vegas.” Dakota groaned, and added with a mischievous grin, “The team willkillme if they find out I’ve been out all night hookin’ up with some chick.”
“The more things change, the more they stay the same, huh?” I giggled. “But somehow, I think yournewowner wouldn’t mind.”
After a red-eye flight back to Vegas, Dakota was back on the ice in the morning, and no one was any wiser.
That first visit set the tone for the rest of the long-distance phase of our relationship. Whenever Dakota had a window to squeeze in a short visit, he flew out. Usually, he told me days in advance that he was coming—sometimes, though, he kept it a surprise, which was my absolute favorite. When you’re in a relationship where distance is a factor, trust me, there’s no thrill quite like opening the door and seeing the love of your life standing before you.
Once, Dakota flew out just so we could have lunch together. It was such a simple gesture … but to me, it meant everything.Thiswas exactly the kind of passionate, all-consuming love I’d always fantasized about having someday.
Of course, he wasn’t the only one flying out for visits. Anytime I had a break from school, I flew back to Vegas, and Dakota welcomed me back into his condo with open arms and made me feel like I was home. He told me again and again it was my home, too, and insisted that, once I graduated, I come live with him for real.
When graduation day arrived last week? Dakota was able to be there (thanks to the fact they’d gotten revenge on the Dallas Devils and eliminated them in six games, woohoo!), beaming with pride as I crossed the stage. Knowing that he believed in me and supported my dreams as an actress made that moment even more special.
With that being said—and I know this might sound really obnoxious or cliché, considering I went through four years of school—but now that I finally graduated, I’m not sure if I want to pursue a future in acting after all.
*Groans from the audience.*
I know, I know.
Looking back, I realize that a big reason why I wanted to be an actress in the first place was because I felt so suffocated by my dad’s expectations and trapped in my situation with Leo. Acting became my escape from reality, a way to forget about my struggles and pretend I was somebody else.
However, once Dakota came into my life and helped me break out of that situation, my perspective began to shift, and I didn’t feel this all-consuming desire to embody someone else. Instead, simply being true to myself and living my own life seemed to fill the void in my heart that I’d tried to fill with acting.
I want to be clear that I am not implying thatall actors are secretly unhappy, or something sinister like that. I have so much respect for my fellow actors and actresses and I stilltotallylove acting as a craft and an art form. I just feel like, forme,acting served its purpose by getting meexactlywhere I needed to be to fix my life—and now that I’m finally there, I’m ready for the next challenge.
So what is the next challenge, exactly?
Owning a hockey team!
I’m perfectly content to leave the on-ice stuff to our hockey staff. But as the owner, I know I have an excellent opportunity to make a positive impact on our community. In my first year, we started numerous initiatives, and worked side-by-side with local hospitals, charities and schools. It’s so important to me that young kids, especially girls, have a chance to pursue their dreams—whether that’s playing a sport or acting orwhatever.
And that’s really about it! School’s over, and I’m moving in with Dakota, and we are more in love now than ever before.
But I guess you’re probably curious about what happened with ol’ Salvatore Capuano, aren’t you?
Dad’s been fine. He’s been a lot more chill in general since he’s out of the sports ownership business and completely given up on his political aspirations. I guess, after he spilled all the details about me and Leo during the press conference, he pissed off Leo’s dad. Senator Lancaster suddenly had to answer a bunch of questions of what he knew and didn’t know about the situation. Naturally, Mr. Lancaster, being a skillful politician, lied right through his teeth. But it didn’t matter. The stink of scandal remained, and Lancaster, once considered an early favorite for President, lost an early primary.
As for me and Dad, well, the situation is complicated. I know he deeply regrets how he handled everything because he tells me literally all the time and every single time I see him. I can tell he’s changed a lot because he also started telling me howproudhe is of me, and the confident woman I’ve become.
