Page 197 of Saving Forever with the Hockey Captain

"I've been gone awhile."

"You've got another five minutes before I start making fun of you."

I laugh. "I appreciate the grace period."

***

One by one, the rest of the team drifts onto the ice. Nobody announces anything. Nobody blows a whistle. Practice simply...slows.

Liam skates lazy circles around me. "I've got twenty bucks that the captain falls before Coach does."

Coach doesn't even look up. "I'll take that bet."

"I wasn't offering it to you."

"You are now."

Toby glides over carrying three pucks balanced on his stick blade. "I had a speech prepared."

Liam groans. "Please tell me you forgot it."

"I did."

"Best news I've heard all week."

Toby smiles at me. "So instead..." He taps my shoulder—carefully avoiding the injured one.

"...welcome back, Cap."

No applause. No dramatic moment. Just three simple words. Welcome back, Cap. Somehow, they're enough.

Caleb skates over last. As always, he says less than everyone else. He simply bumps his blocker lightly against my glove.

"Missed you."

His expression never changes and he repeats. "We missed YOU."

The distinction lands harder than I expect. Not the goals. Not the assists. Me.

Before I can answer, Liam ruins the moment exactly the way only Liam can. "Okay, everybody's feelings have been acknowledged." He claps once. "Now let's see if Captain Serious can still skate backwards without embarrassing the organization."

"I can hear you."

"I wanted to make sure."

"I've been back six minutes."

"You've been judged for at least four."

Toby laughs. "I think that's a new record."

Coach blows his whistle. "Enough visiting."

His voice carries easily across the rink. "Jamie's on a modified practice."

Liam raises his hand. "Can we modify his conditioning, too?"

"No."