He leaned in to get a closer look at the screen and two lines appeared in between his eyebrows.

‘I look like a bozo. And now I’m giving hockey lessons to some rich jackass’s kid. I dunno, Hannah, I felt like a pet monkey or something.’

‘It’s three lessons, and the kid’s just seven years old. And you don’t have to do it until you are fully fit and back on the ice again. Plus, you raised so much money for a very good cause, remember? You might have to give lessons to a rich kid, but the money you raised will help a lot of sick kids.’

While he had never truly opened up about it, Hannah had done enough research on Ward to find out that he hadn’t had the easiest time growing up. She supposed there might be a bit of a projection as to why anything that helped less fortunate kids was always something he could be more easily persuaded into, but she would never dream of asking him about it.

‘Yeah, I know, I know. I guess you’re right,’ he admitted.

Hannah also knew that conceding someone else could be right about something was equally hard on him, so she didn’t labour that either.

‘So,’ she continued, smiling. ‘A great success all round.’ She saw him shift in his seat and he averted his eyes, this time looking at the wall. ‘What’s up?’ she asked, realizing he had something else to say.

He shrugged again. ‘I don’t know. I mean, yeah, great that some money was raised and kids will be helped. But rubbing elbows with some of those people … it feels so phoney. The fancy tux, crazy money being thrown around, that’s just not my scene.’

‘But it was all for a good cause …’

‘I’m just afraid people are going to think I’m a sell-out now. I’ve never hung with that crowd. Feels like I’m doing it for the wrong reasons like it’s all about me getting papped.’

‘No one is going to think that. You’re Ward McKenzie. Tireless grinder who’s just as capable of scoring as making an assist allowing a teammate to take the spotlight. You did a good deed last night. Others in your position do that stuff too … Gretzky, Iginla, Phaneuf,’ Hannah listed on her fingers. Working with him, she had little choice but to become well-versed in ice hockey – but she also knew that he liked being reminded that some of his sports heroes and counterparts put themselves out there too. ‘Those guys are all genuine community-minded success stories who give back. No one suggests they do it just for publicity, just like no one would suggest the same about you.’

He sat up a bit straighter then and Hannah knew she had scored a point in her favour.