Page 206 of Saving Forever with the Hockey Captain

Emotion rarely pays much attention to objective facts.

Jamie finishes another set and looks toward me.

"How's the form?"

I glance up.

"Very good."

"That's it?"

I smile faintly.

"Would you like me to invent something to correct?"

He chuckles.

"No."

"I didn't think so."

He waits another second. Normally, this is where one of us would say something completely unrelated to therapy.

Liam's latest prank.

Coach's impossible standards.

Whether pineapple belongs on pizza.

Instead...silence settles uncomfortably around the room. Uncomfortably for me. Confusingly for him.

I can almost see him trying to decide whether to fill it.

He chooses not to.

The choice makes my chest ache.

The session ends twenty minutes later. Jamie rolls his shoulder once before slipping into his jacket.

"I think that's the best it's felt all week."

"It looks that way."

"I even slept through the night."

"That's excellent."

He smiles. "I thought you'd be happier."

The words are gentle. Not accusing. Simply honest.

I look down at the chart.

"I am happy."

"I know."

He hesitates.