Page 122 of Saving Forever with the Hockey Captain

Next line.

Someone I Encouraged

My pen hovers.

Almost automatically I write:

Annette.

I stare at the words.

Then laugh softly to myself.

"That's not quite right."

One careful line crosses them out.

Instead, I write: Each other.

That feels better.

Truer.

Finally...

Something I'm Grateful For

This one takes longer.

I tap the pen against the page.

Look toward the frozen lake outside the window. Think about soup. Snow. Dreams. A woman who somehow sees the person standing behind the captain.

Slowly, I write.

Someone who reminds me I'm more than a hockey player.

I don't write her name.

I don't need to.

My phone buzzes against the table.

Annette:

Don't forget your stretching exercises tonight, Captain.

I smile before I realize I'm smiling.

I type.

Me:

I'll try.

Three dots appear almost instantly.

Then...