Page 83 of Doc Defence

Hel’s heart soared with happiness, which she tried to push back down. He was still leaving the country.

“I’m glad,” Hel said wryly. “She’s a moron.”

“She is,” Frost agreed vigorously. “Can we talk when I get home?” He sounded so hopeful it nearly broke her that she had to tell him she had already left.

“I’m actually heading over to Clara’s place. The cottage is ready for me.” Hel tried to keep her voice light, but she sounded strained.

“You’re moving out tonight?”

“Yeah. I’m already packed and on the road. Thanks so much for letting me stay. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me.” All she wanted to do was pull over and cry, but she needed to get to Clara’s.

“Stay.”

Hel couldn’t answer immediately as his quiet word ripped at her heart. “I can’t,” she whispered.

“Please. Stay with me,” Frost asked her. This time, his voice hitched.

“Frost, you leave in a few weeks. It’ll be easier if I go now.” She was so close to turning the car around, giving herself the weeks she had promised herself she wouldn’t.

“We can make it work. You know, the distance.”

A piece of Hel’s heart tore when he confirmed he wanted the same as her. “How?”

“Can you come and work in Canada?” he asked hopefully.

“No. I can’t leave my parents. I should have enough money for Dad to have his surgery in the next six months, and they won’t cope without me.”

“Surgery?” Frost queried.

Hel cursed internally. She would never have mentioned anything if she hadn’t been so upset, but it was too late to unsay the words. “Yeah. I’ve been saving for Dad to have some back surgery he needs. It’s only offered in the private hospital and is eye-wateringly expensive. I need my job here to pay for it. I can’t leave.”

“Oh,” Frost muttered.

“Yeah,” Hel replied.

It was on the tip of her tongue to ask him to stay, but she bit the words back. He couldn’t stay. She saw how hard he found it not working. He needed the coaching job for his own sanity.

“Frost. Jake.” She used his actual name, even though it felt strange. “I’m so glad I met you. Thank you for being there for me when I needed someone.”

“That sounds like a goodbye.” Frost’s voice broke.

Hel tried to hold it together, but the tears escaped, blurring her vision as she pulled up to Clara’s gate. Rolling down her window, she blinked until the keypad came into focus well enough to put in the code.

“It’s not a goodbye. We’ve got two more games left. I’ll see you then.” She couldn’t hide the hitch in her voice.

“Can we go out for dinner?” Frost asked.

Hel shook her head, even though he couldn’t see her. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

There was a long pause before Frost said, “I wish things could be different.”

“Me too,” Hel murmured.

Frost was silent for a moment before he spoke. “I’m glad I met you too. I’ll see you next Saturday at the game.”

“See you then.” Hel hesitated, then hung up the call. There was nothing else to say.

She drove straight to the cottage that would be her new home. When she pulled up, she put her car into park and put her head down on the steering wheel, breathing deeply as she tried to stop the tears.

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