Page 26 of Saving Forever with the Hockey Captain

It's oddly effective.

I try again. A little farther. Another breath. Another.

By the fifth one sweat has gathered across my forehead.

By the tenth...I'm ready to negotiate with the hospital administration.

She quietly takes the spirometer back. "Better."

"I'll take your word for it."

"You should."

She reaches for the medication cup. "Pain medicine."

"I don't really need—"

She waits. I stop talking. It's becoming an unfortunate habit around her.

I swallow the pills and she marks another line on the chart.

Then she notices my eyes drifting toward the phone again. "Waiting for news?"

"My team."

"I suspected."

She pulls the visitor chair closer instead of leaving.

Not close enough to feel personal. Close enough to have a conversation.

"May I ask you something?"

"You just did." The corner of her mouth twitches.

"I'll rephrase."

I gesture grandly with my good arm.

"Permission granted."

"Why do you always answer every question with someone else's name?"

I blink. "What do you mean?"

"Yesterday..."

She begins counting softly on her fingers.

"'How's Ethan?'"

"'Where's Coach?'"

"'Is everyone else okay?'"

She looks back at me.

"This morning..."