Page 48 of Saving Forever with the Hockey Captain

He frowns. "What?"

"Always noticing everyone else."

He doesn't answer immediately. Instead, he holds a door open so an elderly volunteer can wheel a flower cart through the hallway. She thanks him. He smiles.

Only after she's gone does he answer. "I guess I never really think about it."

"I have."

He looks at me.

I say quietly, “I’m still trying to remember whether I've ever seen your first question be about yourself."

His smile fades into something thoughtful.

I continue. "Every morning it's a whole list of people."

I meet his eyes. "You still never start with Jamie."

Again, he looks genuinely surprised, as though he'd never noticed…or remembered me asking before. "I don't?"

I shake my head. "Not once."

Silence settles between us. Not uncomfortable. Just honest. For the first time since I met Captain Jamie Walker, he doesn't seem to have an answer.

Just before lunch Coach steps inside carrying two coffees and five hockey sticks.

"I brought peace offerings."

Jamie looks up from the paperback he'd been pretending to read.

"You finally admitted hospital coffee is terrible?"

"I admitted yours is worse."

Coach hands one cup to Annette. She smiles in surprise. "Thank you."

"I figured if you're keeping my captain alive, the least I could do was upgrade your caffeine."

"I'll accept that arrangement."

Jamie eyes the second cup. “I notice there isn't one for me."

Coach doesn't even glance his way. "The orthopedic surgeon and I had a conversation."

"Traitor."

"Responsible adult."

"I liked you better five minutes ago."

"You'll survive."

Jamie smiles. "Probably."

Coach settles into the visitor's chair. “First, I brought you the sticks and some markers. I figure five should be enough from what you’ve told me.”

" And more importantly, I've got somebody who wants to see you."