Page 317 of Saving Forever with the Hockey Captain

The child turns, sees me, and his eyes widen.

"Captain Walker!"

He holds the sign up a little higher.

I walk over. "Did you make that?"

He nods enthusiastically. "My grandma helped with the letters."

"They're excellent letters."

He grins. "I told my mom you were coming back today."

"I'm glad I didn't disappoint you."

"You won't."

The certainty in his voice catches me off guard. Before I leave, I kneel just long enough to shake his hand. "Cheer loud."

He beams. "I always do."

Inside the arena, everything feels comfortably familiar.

The hallway echoes with the sounds of sharpening skates, equipment carts rolling over concrete, and trainers moving from room to room with practiced efficiency.

No one treats today like something extraordinary. Not because it isn't. Because this is what teammates do. They let normal become its own kind of welcome.

Liam falls into step beside me carrying two coffees.

"I bought yours."

I accept the cup suspiciously. "What do you want?"

"Nothing."

"I don't believe you."

He smiles. "I just figured your first game back deserved decent coffee."

I take a careful sip. "It's actually good."

"I know."

"You made it yourself?"

"I'm deeply offended."

"You should be."

He places one hand over his heart.

"I specifically walked three blocks so I wouldn't poison our captain with arena coffee."

"That..." I raise the cup slightly. "...might be the nicest thing you've ever done for me."

"Don't get used to it."

"I wasn't planning on it."