Page 105 of Doc Defence

Finally, his face filled the screen for the last part, where he simply spoke to the camera.

“Tell me how you feel about your career.”Greg’s voice prompted.

“I’ve been one of the luckiest men in the world.”Frost stared at himself as he spoke those words to the whole audience.“I have lived a life many people only dream of. I was lucky to have an incredible family who supported me every step of the way. I played for some amazing teams and the people I met along the way, I’m honoured to call friends still.

“When I was five years old and had just started playing, I dreamed of holding the Stanley Cup, which I got to do four times.”

A cheer went around the room. The players here knew what an impressive feat it was. Frost lifted his free hand and waved in acknowledgement.

“I dreamed of making a living in the NHL. Playing the sport that has been my every waking thought for as long as I can remember. And I got to do that. I gave everything I had to the game, but now I’m thirty-six years old, and I need to think of what’s next.”

“Coaching in the NHL?”Greg supplied.

“I have loved my season coaching for the Vultures, but I don’t want to do this long term. This is as all-consuming as playing, and I need to start living a life outside of hockey.”

“What are you planning on doing then?”The cameraman asked.

“Well, I went to Australia, I suppose you could say as a gimmick, to promote ice hockey. And after leaving, I now realise my future is there.”

“Why is that?”Greg prompted.

“I fell in love.”Frost’s green eyes didn’t blink as he spoke, a smile pulling on the corner of his lips.

“With the country or a person?”Greg asked one last question, but Frost didn’t answer him. He smiled straight into the camera lens, and the titles of the documentary began to roll.

Frost felt Hel’s breath stutter when he said his final words on screen, and he squeezed her tighter.

CHAPTER 37

HEL

Hel’sbreathhitchedwhenFrost said he fell in love. With the country? With a woman? With her?

The arm that was wrapped around her tightened, and she turned to stare up at his face, but this time, it was him who looked straight ahead. She used the time to examine his profile to see if he had changed in the last seven months.

His hair was still the same sandy blonde, a little longer than it had been before. His facial hair was neatly trimmed, and she wanted to touch it. Her mind jumped back to the drunken, dishevelled version of him she had witnessed, which was nothing like the man she was now sitting with.

Hel kept staring until his eyes finally dropped to her. She didn’t look away, and a tentative smile bloomed on her face.

“Hi,” Hel whispered up at him.

“Hi,” Frost murmured back.

Hel almost rolled her eyes at herself as they were back to the one words again, but her inability to talk didn’t improve when he leaned closer to her. The noise of the other players faded into the background. Her whole world was him and his green eyes, which were locked on her.

Frost reached out and pushed some of her curls behind her ear. Hel grinned when they immediately sprung free again. Her hair was not easy to tame.

She was surprised when Frost was wrenched away from her and swore loudly, “For fucks sake.”

“Sorry Hel. We need to borrow him. You can have him back later,” Aiden apologised as he and a few of the other guys hoisted Frost up onto their shoulders and carried him down the stairs to the front of the cinema.

Hel cringed. If they dropped him, she wasn’t going to be impressed at all. When they made it safely to the bottom, she couldn’t help but laugh at their antics as the whole team surrounded Frost, cheering and bouncing him around.

She laughed even harder at the slightly helpless look on Frost’s face as he was powerless against so many strong men.

When they finally got tired, Frost was deposited onto the floor, and a microphone thrust into his hand.

“Thanks for that, guys.” Frost sounded slightly breathless. “We’ve spent ninety minutes listening to my voice, so I’m not actually going to say anything else, apart from I’ve got a table booked at the Railway Tavern and dinner and drinks are on me tonight, as payment for you lot so politely listening to me ramble on.”

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