Page 162 of Saving Forever with the Hockey Captain

"Oh?" She starts walking toward the door.

"Name one."

"You."

She laughs. "I'll take that as a compliment."

"It wasn't."

"It absolutely was."

"I object."

"Overruled."

"I don't think therapists get to overrule people."

"We do in here." She points around the clinic. "My territory."

"I'm beginning to suspect you enjoy reminding me of that."

"Only on Tuesdays."

"It's Wednesday."

She smiles over her shoulder.

"I know."

***

Outside the therapy room, they slow near the lockers. She stands with one hand resting on the door and studies me with a look that I know too well.

“What?”

“I’m deciding whether you’ve earned it.”

“It’s my phone.”

“That is not the same thing.”

“I completed every repetition. With my full attention.”

“Exactly.”

Annette opens my locker and hands me my phone.

"I trust you."

I glance down at it. "That's dangerous."

"No." She shakes her head. "It's encouraging."

I slip the phone into my pocket without looking at the screen.

Her eyebrows lift just a fraction.

"You didn't check it."