Page 219 of Saving Forever with the Hockey Captain

“I think you deserve to return without feeling responsible for me too.”

The meaning becomes clear all at once. She believes caring about her would become just another burden, another person to carry, another obligation that Jamie Walker takes on because that is what he does.

“You think I’m doing this because I feel responsible for you.”

“I think you care about people.”

“That isn’t the same thing.”

“It becomes the same thing for you.”

The accusation is quiet, but it cuts straight through me because part of it is true. I do take care of people. I do confuse love with responsibility and usefulness with worth.

But not this.

Not her.

“You don’t get to decide what you are to me.”

“I’m trying to protect you.”

“From what?”

“From making your recovery about someone else.”

I step back.

She believes she is releasing me. Instead, she is removing herself before I can choose.

The pain in my chest has nothing to do with ribs, surgery or the hit that began all of this.

“I thought you were the one person who saw me clearly.”

Annette flinches. “I do.”

“No. You see the captain who takes on too much. You see the patient who needs to focus on recovery. You see every version of me except the man standing here telling you he doesn’t want this to end.”

Her eyes close briefly. When she opens them, she looks heartbroken.

“That’s why it has to.”

For a second, I cannot speak. She turns away first. “We should finish your session.”

The words are so professional they almost sound cruel. I know she does not mean them that way, but that doesn’t make them hurt less.

“No.”

She looks back.

“I’m done for today.”

“Jamie, your shoulder—”

“Is fine.”

I reach for the door.

“Please don’t leave like this.”