He seemed to think about this for a second, and when he nodded gruffly, she figured her words had landed. Selecting a shot she liked and making it his profile picture, she then handed him back the device. ‘So take back control.’

‘OK, but what do I even do with this thing?’ He held the phone like it was a ticking time bomb. ‘All sounds straightforward in theory but what the hell do I say?’

‘Just whatever you’re comfortable with but keep it on brand. I’ve watched some of your post-game interviews, you’re good at that and your passion for the game shines through. So talk about sports, comment on other games, players or whatever. But in a nice way, which goes without saying, I hope.’

He grinned. ‘No trash talk. OK, I can be nice when I need to.’

‘You sure about that?’ Hannah laughed. ‘But if you’re ever uncertain, probably easier to think about what you don’t say. Definitely no wading into commentary on politics or culture wars, no matter how tempted you might be. Think of that stuff like the kids’ table at a party otherwise filled with adults. You don’t want to be whining and squabbling in the corner with a bunch of toddlers, trying to solve an argument with rational thinking. Nope, just stay sitting at the grown-ups’ table, OK?’

She’d also learned that Ward seemed to appreciate analogies far better than non-specific generalities.

‘No whining either – got it. So should I uh, say something now?’

‘No time like the present.’ Hannah looked up and glanced around. ‘I like this place. It would be fun to tag it. John Doe … not for long maybe. Here, let me get you started.’

She grabbed the device and as she went to take it, his fingers briefly brushed her skin and an unmistakable shiver flashed through her. Just the new device still warming up? Or something else?

Reluctant to meet Ward’s gaze for fear that he’d felt it too (or hadn’t), Hannah swallowed, and her hands quickly went back to work, crafting Ward’s first-ever social media ‘post’ with all applicable hashtags.

‘Seriously? I have to let people know about everywhere I go now too? I’m just a hockey player, Hannah. No one’s gonna care about where I’m eating. And just so you know, no way am I taking pictures of my goddamn burger. I mean what’s even the point of that?’

Biting back a grin, she tsked and dropped his phone back on the table, afraid to risk any more tactile contact before picking up hers, intending to loop in some celebrity bloggers and sports reporter connections on the news that famously introverted (or more to the point antiquated) Ward McKenzie was now on socials.

Let the fun begin.