Page 80 of Doc Defence

“Nope,” Frost grimaced. He didn’t like the sound of his actual name on her lips. It felt like she was trying to be intimate with him when all he wanted from her was distance.

He felt a hand on his shoulder. “Son, this seems like something you need some privacy for.” Coach Morgan’s gravelly voice was loud enough for Patricia to hear too.

She purred, “Yes, privacy would be good.” Then she leaned forward and murmured, “Although I always was a little bit of an exhibitionist.”

Frost shuddered. “Let’s go.” He turned to the side and hopped off through the team who were, for once, being mature and not making any comments.

Patricia tried to link her arm through his, and Frost stopped moving. “That doesn’t make it very easy for me to walk. Please stop.”

She didn’t even seem to notice his revulsion of her. Instead, she giggled. “Of course, silly me.”

Frost didn’t say anything else to her until they got to the coach’s office door, and he held it open. “After you.” He gestured for her to enter.

“Thanks.” She giggled again and smiled coyly.

She was excellent at what she did. He used to be taken in by that sort of look from her. But now, now all he wanted was for Hel to be the one standing in front of him, not acting like he didn’t exist and avoiding him.

He hopped around the desk and sat down gratefully in the coach’s chair, wanting to keep her away from him. He stifled the groan that nearly escaped his lips. His leg wasn’t feeling great. He had spent too long standing and would pay for it tomorrow with pain.

Propping his elbows on the desk, he leaned forward. “What’s this about?”

Patricia took hold of the end of her hair and twirled it around her fingers. “I told you, I made a mistake.”

“Really?” Frost’s eyebrow lifted. “I’m no longer a has-been?”

“I never said that!” Patricia exclaimed, pouting.

“No, you didn’t say it. You wrote it down. I can show you if you need a reminder.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket.

“If I did say it. It was in the heat of the moment,” Patricia simpered.

Frost thought back to the disagreements they’d had while they were together and realised she did that a lot, turned things around until he almost thought he was in the wrong, even when she had been the one to do something outrageous, like film him in the shower and put it online.

“Anyway. That doesn’t matter. I saw the article and knew we should be together.” Patricia smiled widely and leaned across the desk toward him, giving him a view straight down her top.

“Article?” Frost asked.

“We should be together,” Patricia repeated.

“What article?” Frost wasn’t to be deterred.

“Oh, you know.” Patricia leaned further and smiled coquettishly at him.

“I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking.”

Patricia didn’t say anything, merely leaned further, so he sighed and grabbed his phone out. Opening Google, he typed his own name.

The first headline that popped up was the announcement of his coaching debut in the NHL. He clicked on it and scanned the article on the website, and at the end, there was an estimation of his future salary, which was grossly inflated compared to reality.

And there it was. He had always known she liked the ‘finer things in life’, and when they had been together, he hadn’t minded buying things for her, paying for their meals and travel.

When she asked about money, he skirted the issue. Maybe even then, realising she was only with him for one reason. He had implied to her that all his money was locked up in long-term investments and that when he stopped playing, he would have to adjust his lifestyle significantly.

Which was true, he was going to adjust it. He didn’t have to, but he was over the flashy life, the expensive clubs and the expensive cars. He wanted to spend money on what really mattered, which was a future and maybe a family. His mind jumped to Hel, but Patricia chose that moment to say his least favourite word.

“Baaaaabbbbeeeeeeee.”

Gritting his teeth, he ground out, “We’re over. We are never getting back together. Please leave.”

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