Page 210 of Saving Forever with the Hockey Captain

Halfway through the appointment, Coach stops by the therapy gym. He leans against the doorway and watches me finish a balance drill.

"Looking good, Captain."

"I'm getting there." Coach nods toward Annette. "You've worked miracles."

Annette smiles politely.

"Jamie deserves the credit. He's done the work."

Coach grins. "I'll let him enjoy hearing that for at least five minutes." Normally she would laugh. Instead, she simply returns to the chart.

Coach notices. So do I. When he leaves, he gives me the smallest glance. One captain to another. It lasts less than a second. Long enough to ask a silent question.

Everything okay?

I honestly don't know.

When the session ends, Annette hands me my updated exercise sheet. "I've added one new strengthening drill."

I glance down. "Looks manageable."

"It should be."

She gathers the resistance bands and returns them to the shelf.

I wait. For what, I'm not entirely sure. Coffee? A walk? Five minutes talking about nothing?

Instead, she closes the cabinet door. "I have another patient in a few minutes. I'll see you Thursday."

"I'll be here."

The words sound strangely formal. Like something we'd have said during my first week instead of after months of shared mornings. I leave the clinic carrying the exercise sheet in one hand and a feeling I can't quite name in the other.

The drive back to Briar Cove is unusually quiet. I’d switched off the radio halfway home.

The silence gives me too much room to think.

Did I say something? Miss something? Push too hard?

She'd always told me she'd let me know if I overdid the exercises.

She always had.

This feels different. More personal. I just don't know why.

By the time I pull into the driveway, I've convinced myself I'm overthinking everything.

Then my phone buzzes.

Liam Emergency.

I call him before walking inside.

"What happened?"

"I have an important question."

I wait.