Page 87 of Doc Defence

Frost pulled his phone out, pretending to check it so he could keep listening to the conversation without being too obvious. He knew if he tried to join them, Hel would leave.

“Yeah.” Aiden’s voice vibrated as he was shaken. “Claudia wasn’t sure, but in the end, we decided I would finish this season. I’m not playing next year, it’s been too tough on Claudia. Every time I come to play, she’s panicking. I love the game, but I love her more, and I can’t keep doing this to her.”

Frost listened as they chatted about Aiden giving up the game for the woman he loved, and he wondered if he had been in that position, would he have made the same decision? He wasn’t sure, as he had spent so many years single-mindedly playing. Everything else around it hadn’t been important, only his job. And now, what was he left with? Old injuries that ached when it rained, and a leg the doctors told him may never completely recover and leave him with a limp.

“Anyway. You have to come to the pub. Claudia and Abbey will be there, and it’s the last chance they’ll have to hang out with you, and they’ll give me and Rocky so much hassle if you’re not there.” Aiden grinned winningly at Hel, who threw her hands up in defeat.

Frost’s heart lifted and sank at the same time. He wanted her to go even though it would be torture.

Frost bought another round of drinks for the team. A couple of the boys tried to stop him, but he waved them away and placed his black Amex behind the bar, telling them their money was no good, and he wanted to say thanks for letting him play with them for a season.

He made sure he sat on the opposite side of the table from Hel, so despite not being able to talk to her without making it awkward, at least he could still see her. Frost realised he was spending too much time staring at her as he sipped his lemonade, but he couldn’t stop his eyes from straying to her.

Watching her chat with Claudia, Abbey, Rocky, and Aiden made him feel jealous. He wanted to be part of the group, sitting with Hel.

“It didn’t work out with Hel?” Coach Morgan sat next to Frost, observing his players as they drank and celebrated.

“No. The distance ended it before it could even start.” Frost shook his head regretfully, taking another glance at Hel now that they were talking about her.

“Shame. I like her. She’s much better for you than Star.”

Frost admitted. “I wasn’t really thinking with my brain when I started dating Star.”

“You certainly weren’t,” Coach Morgan agreed dryly. “She was…” he hesitated before he finished, “interesting.”

“She was. And exhausting. I found her constant need to socialise and to be seen was fun at first. When we met, I knew my career wasn’t too far away from finishing, and I thought I would enjoy being with someone who had so much social life.”

“But you didn’t?” Coach Morgan guessed.

“No. It turns out I’m a closet homebody. I enjoy coming to the pub with my friends.” Frost gestured around the table. “I’m not here to be seen. I don’t want to go someplace because it’s new or on-trend.”

“You are turning into a grumpy old man.” Coach Morgan lifted his lemonade to Frost. “I have been there for years. It’s a great club to be in. You do what you want and stuff what anyone else thinks. Except my wife, her I listen to.” He grinned and took another sip of his drink.

“Yeah. That doesn’t sound too bad at all.” His eyes slipped to Hel again as she giggled and whispered with Abbey and Claudia.

Both women must have been ten years younger than her, not that it mattered. Hel didn’t seem to take her age or the fact she was more educated than anyone sitting at the table too seriously.

On paper, he was well educated. He went to University, as his parents insisted he had to before he tried for the NHL, but he was so focused on the game that he did the bare minimum to pass, even when his parents told him to work harder as hockey might not work out. He had been so convinced it would and twenty-year-old Jake Forster wouldn’t be told he might never make it in the NHL, that one injury could finish his career before it started.

He had been one of the lucky ones and succeeded. He had more money in the bank than he could ever spend. He had won four Stanley Cups. He had played for Canada in the Olympics during his AHL years and had a gold medal hanging in his parents’ house. His name would be remembered in ice hockey history as one of the greatest defensemen of his generation. Now, he needed to make sure his personal life matched the success of his professional one.

CHAPTER 30

HEL

Helstaredatherselfin the full-length mirror and swished her skirt around. The bridesmaid’s dress was the most fantastic thing she had ever worn. It was pale green—which complimented her hair perfectly—fitted in the bodice, with cap sleeves, and a gauzy skirt which moved beautifully as she walked. She took her phone out and took a mirror selfie, sending it to her mum.

Sadie was dressed in an identical style, but her’s was a pale blue. She stood next to Hel, examining her face in the mirror.

“This makeup is incredible.” Sadie reached up to poke at her cheek when the makeup artist, who was standing on the other side of the room, packing up her brushes, called out.

“Don’t you dare touch your face!”

“Sorry.” Sadie dropped her hand. “You’re a real artist. Thank you so much. I feel amazing.”

The woman waved. “Thanks. Now ladies, I’ll be around all day, so if you need any touch-ups, come and find me.”

“Thanks,” Hel called out as the woman left. “She is a wizard. We both look amazing.”

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