“I’m just a fucking hockey player.” “You’re more than a hockey player,” I say, and he opens his eyes to look at me. I think he can see straight into my soul. “You’re her hero, and there’s not an honor higher than that. Just think: one day she’s going to be at NASA or some prestigious research hospital, in a room with really smart people, and she’ll tell them all about how she got to spend time with you. That sounds like my idea of hell, but I’m glad she likes it.”