Page 74 of Doc Defence

“It was better than I expected,” Frost amended.

“And?” Hel glared at him.

Frost swivelled in his seat, a serious expression on his face. “What I’m about to say cannot be repeated to anyone who plays hockey, coaches hockey, or is basically anyone else but you.”

Hel crossed her heart.

Frost took a big breath before he finally said, “It was a great movie. I’m glad you made me watch it. I enjoyed it.”

Hel leapt to her feet and took a bow. “Thank you for acknowledging my superior movie selecting ability. I assume that means I get to pick for the rest of the day?” She threw him a cheeky grin before she retook her seat, crossing her legs up and turning to face him.

“Not a chance!” Frost exclaimed.

“You know, that movie now makes me think of Clara and Taylor. Movie star, normal girl, and they couldn’t be happier.” Hel stared wistfully at the screen.

“Yeah. They do seem really happy.”

“They are. Disgustingly happy,” Hel grumbled and rolled her eyes. “If I have to see them stare into each other’s eyes or kiss one more time, I might be sick.”

“Not a big fan of the public displays of affection?”

Hel made a vomiting noise. “Not so much.”

But she added internally that she wasn’t a fan of other people’s public displays of affection. If she got to kiss Frost, now that—she pulled her brain up, that was something she couldn’t think about, especially not when he was one metre away from her.

“Did you find a date for their wedding?” Frost enquired.

“No.” She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll be on bridesmaid duties.” She wanted the words to come out, ‘Do you want to go with me?’ But instead, she smiled brightly and said, “I don’t mind.”

“You’ll be single as a pringle,” Frost supplied.

Hel froze. Oh my god. Had he quoted one of her worst ‘dad lines’ back to her? Surely he didn’t remember her saying that? But it was such a disastrous thing to say, he obviously did.

“Indeed. As a pringle.” Hel worked hard to control the flush that wanted to spread up her cheeks. “Anyway, what shall we watch next? I suppose I’ll let you choose,” she said magnanimously and presented him with the remote control.

As he took it off her, his fingers brushed over hers, and an electric spark rippled up her arm, but he didn’t seem to notice anything as he snatched the remote.

“Are you ready for some action?” Frost cheered.

Hel’s mind went to a different place than the one he was implying, so instead of answering, as she thought her voice might crack, she just groaned.

“No complaining. I watched Notting Hill!” Frost exclaimed as he scrolled through shows on Netflix.

“And you said you liked it!” Hel fired back.

“No comment.” Frost laughed.

“You literally said you did, so no comment means yes.”

“If you tell any of my teammates, I will deny it completely.” He wiggled his eyebrows.

“Fair.” Hel nodded in agreement.

“Right. This is the next movie we’re going to watch.”

Hel groaned when an image of an actor holding a gun and looking brooding filled the screen. “Why?”

“Shhhhh. The movie’s starting.” Frost ignored her grumbling and turned the movie up.

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