Page 36

CHAPTER 36

FROST

H e kissed her? He closed his eyes, desperately trying to remember. He recalled being high as a kite and being a total pain. But kissing her? Surely he would remember that? Well, he obviously didn’t, as it was right there on the screen. The thing he had wanted to do for so long and clearly already had.

Hel shifted in her seat, and his eyes swung over to her, but she resolutely didn’t look at him. The rest of the team though, were having a ball, whooping and cheering. Even Coach Morgan couldn’t settle them down again.

Frost wanted to drag her out of the cinema and go somewhere private to talk. Okay, he was kidding himself. He wanted to kiss her. A kiss this time that he would remember.

But now he was Coach of the team, he needed to set an example to the players, and him leaping up and dragging Hel out of the room after their first kiss—shit, he hated that he didn’t remember their first kiss—had been shown to the whole world, wasn’t really setting a ‘wholesome’ example.

Squeezing Hel’s hand, he stared at her, willing her to look over at him, but even as silence returned to the cinema, she didn’t. Eventually, he did the only thing he could think of. He let go of her hand, which got a response out of her, and she spun to look at him with a surprised and maybe hurt expression on her face.

But he wouldn’t be deterred. He lifted the armrest separating them, put his arm around her shoulder and tugged her until she was flush against his side.

Hel squeaked in surprise and was initially stiff in his arms, but she quickly relaxed into him and lifted her hand up, threading her fingers through his. Leaning in, he rested his cheek against her hair, marvelling at how right it felt.

It seemed like forever until the end of the documentary. The bit he wanted Hel to see.

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.