Page 134 of Saving Forever with the Hockey Captain

I feel my cheeks warming. "It's been a good week."

"Mmm."

The sound tells me she doesn't believe that's the whole story. Not even close. She lets the silence stretch for a few comfortable seconds before asking the question I should have seen coming.

"So..." she says. "How's Captain Handsome?"

The answer comes automatically. "He's doing really well."

She nods, waiting. "His shoulder is stronger."

Another nod. "His confidence is back."

Still waiting. "He's laughing again."

I smile without realizing it. "He actually made one of the teenage patients laugh so hard today that the poor kid nearly forgot he was supposed to be balancing on one foot."

Keisha's smile grows wider.

"And..." I continue, "...he finally admitted stretching isn't completely useless."

She doesn't interrupt.

"He remembers everyone's names."

I keep talking.

"He checks on the volunteers every morning. He somehow convinced Mr. Jenkins to actually do his home exercises."

"And..."

I stop, realizing that I've been talking for nearly two minutes.

Keisha folds her arms. "I asked how he was."

I blink.

"I didn't ask how his shoulder was or what he was doing in the gym."

For a heartbeat I simply stare at her, then I drop my forehead into one hand. "Oh no."

She laughs. "Oh yes."

"I did that, didn't I?"

"You absolutely did."

I groan. "I sound ridiculous."

"You sound..." She smiles gently. "...interested."

I open my mouth to protest. Nothing comes out. Because for the first time...

I'm not entirely sure she's wrong.

The smile on Keisha's face softens. "There she is."

"Who?"