Page 248 of Saving Forever with the Hockey Captain

"Hey, could you give her a hand?"

He smiles immediately. "Of course."

Together they lift the water into her trunk.

The woman thanks all three of us. As I walk back to my truck I catch myself smiling.

Not because I helped.

Because this time I helped the way Annette would've wanted me to.

Without risking everything to do it.

Somewhere over the last six weeks...

She'd changed more than my shoulder.

She'd changed me.

***

Eight weeks later...

Mark lowers his clipboard and smiles. "Congratulations, Captain."

I frown.

"That's it?"

"That's it."

He extends his hand. "You're officially cleared for full contact."

For months, I'd imagined what this moment would feel like.

Victory.

Relief.

Freedom.

Instead, I find myself looking toward the hallway.

For one impossible second, I expect to see Annette standing there with that quiet smile she always tried to hide whenever I reached another milestone.

The hallway is empty. Coach claps me on the shoulder. The guys cheer.

Liam pretends to wipe away a tear.

Even Caleb grins.

I smile because they're happy.

Not because I am.

Most of the celebration drifts toward the parking lot.

I linger behind. For some reason I want to talk with Mrs. Alvarez and let her hear about my progress. I head to the Walker Center where I began this healing journey and find her