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And that right there shocks me I’m not sure there are many people in my life I can truly say that about That I care about theive them serious, devoted, and focused time

I e to relax and lay my head on the pillow “You’re welco, okay?”

“Okay,” she says, her eyes warm and the barest of smiles on her face

We just stare at each other a ht side of er traces a scar that takes up a few centi into my hair It’s faint from a distance, but up close it’s noticeable It’s just one of many scars I have as a hockey player

“How did you get this one?” she asks

This is not the first time I’ve answered that question She’s let her hands roa the puckered skin of each one of ain

Right knee: ht thigh: gash frohbor’s yard one night trying to make curfew, and then had to escape a RottieUpper lip: hockey puck Didn’t duck fast enoughLeft knuckles: a really good fight The other guy got it worseBottoot it worse than the other guyBut despite all the other scars she’s asked about, this is the first time she’s asked about the one on my forehead It’s the most obvious—besides the one on my chin—since I wear er Hill when I was eight,” I tell her “I wasn’t the best at steering and I had a bit of a run-in with a tree”

Brooke winces as she twists her hand slightly to bring her thumb over it and brushes it softly “You could have been killed”

“That’s exactly whatme up”

Brooke gives ave me

Speaking of which…

“Myin next week for a visit,” I tell her

Brooke s her hands under her cheek “That’s aweso?”

“She’s going to fly in Wednesday for the hoh to watch the next ho”

“What are you going to tell her?” Brooke asks She’s aware that so far I’ve not toldabout Brooke because it wasn’t necessary