Page 191 of Saving Forever with the Hockey Captain

"Ten days."

"And how do you feel about that?"

"I..." The answer sticks somewhere behind my ribs. "I don't know."

She waits. My mother has always been very good at waiting.

Finally, the words tumble out. "I’m supposed to be excited."

"Yes, you've wanted to work in sports rehabilitation since high school."

"I know."

"So, what's changed?"

I close my eyes. Everything. Instead, I whisper, "I met someone."

The silence on the other end changes completely. Not surprise. Understanding.

"The hockey player."

I laugh softly. "You remember."

"Sweetheart, you've mentioned him enough that I could probably recognize him in a grocery store."

Heat floods my cheeks. "I haven't talked about him that much."

"You called three weeks ago just to tell me he'd finally admitted his shoulder hurt."

"I was discussing patient progress."

"Mmm."

There it is again. I smile in spite of myself.

Then...the smile fades. "Mom, I don't know what to do."

She doesn't answer immediately. When she finally speaks, her voice is quieter than before. "Do you love him?"

The question steals the air from the room.

I open my mouth. Nothing comes out. Not because I don't know, but because saying it out loud somehow makes it so much more real.

My eyes drift toward the window where evening has settled over Frostholm.

Jamie is somewhere beneath the same sky. Probably reading. Or making tea. Or pretending he isn't worried about tomorrow's therapy exercises.

A smile touches my lips before I even realize it's there. The answer has been sitting quietly inside me for weeks.

"...Yes."

The word is barely audible. "I do."

Mom lets out the softest little sigh. "Oh, honey."

I swallow hard. "I wasn't planning to."

"No one ever does."