Page 144 of Saving Forever with the Hockey Captain

I clap his shoulder with my good hand. "You've got a game to win."

A grin finally appears. "I'll work on that."

"I know you will."

He heads toward the tunnel with the rest of the team. Coach lingers, waiting until the room empties.

"You ready?"

"For what?"

He smiles. "Come with me." Warm-ups are already underway when we step into the arena. The familiar sounds wash over me immediately. Skates cutting fresh lines into the ice. Pucks striking the glass. Kids leaning over the railing hoping for a wave from their favorite players.

For one dangerous second every part of me wants to grab a stick. Coach says nothing. He simply walks behind the bench. I follow. The assistant coaches glance up. One nod. Nothing more. As though this has always been the plan.

Coach reaches beneath the shelf behind the bench. When he stands, there's a headset in his hand. He tosses it to me. I catch it instinctively.

"Coach..."

He folds his arms. "Enough."

I wait. "Put it on."

I stare at the headset. "I'm not coaching." "No."

"I'm not playing." "I know."

"I'm..." The words disappear somewhere between my heart and my throat. Coach smiles. "You think that headset makes someone a coach?"

I look back at him. "It just lets everybody hear him better."

He taps the headset once with his finger. "They already follow you, Jamie."

His voice is quiet. Certain. "This..." another gentle tap, "...just puts you where you've always belonged."

For a moment I can't move. Annette's voice slips quietly into my thoughts. Maybe you've spent so long believing your value came from what you could do...

...that you forgot who you already are.

I swallow hard. Because standing here I finally understand what she's been trying to tell me.

Coach gives my good shoulder a gentle squeeze. "The boys are waiting, Captain." I slide the headset over my ears.

It fits exactly the way I remember. Only somehow it feels different. Lighter. Like it isn't asking me to carry the team anymore. Just...to be part of it.

The opening face off drops before I have time to think. The first few shifts are clean. Simple. Good hockey.

Halfway through the period Ethan misjudges a bounce at the blue line. The opposing winger slips behind him. Caleb makes a spectacular save. The crowd erupts.

Ethan reaches the bench looking frustrated. "I should've..."

"No." He looks at me. "You recovered."

He blinks. "You didn't quit on the play." I nod toward the ice. "You forced him outside."

"You gave Caleb a chance." One slow breath leaves him. Another. Finally, he nods. "Next shift."

"Next shift."