Page 12 of Defensive Zone

“I’m paying attention,” Max grumbled, rubbing his head like he was hurt. “I was going over my kick-ass goal that put us up,” Max continued.

Seibs shook his head and moved down the line of guys to talk to Bugsy, their head coach.

“While we appreciate the goal, you’re full of shit. Want to talk about it?” Sully asked.

“Yeah, I’m curious, too,” Crow said.

“I’m good and we’re up next,” Max said, turning his attention back to the ice, where it should have been.

He would not think about Gabi. In his jersey or out of it.

Shit. Now that was an image he definitely didn’t need right now.

He bounced his knee, itching to get back in the game. He didn’t need her distracting him. No one had ever distracted him from the game, and he sure as hell wasn’t going to let anyone start now.

Twenty seconds later, he was back on the ice and his head was in the game. He tracked one of Florida’s forwards as the man hovered a bit too close to the blue paint around the Strikers’ goalie for Max’s liking. Max shifted in between the forward and Gally, the Strikers’ main goalie, methodically skating closer to the forward and edging him away from the net.

Max spotted the puck just before it hit the forward’s stick and he poked his out, clipping the side of the puck and flicking it to Crow, who then passed it up to Sully. The Strikers were in possession and skating up the ice. Max and Crow moved toward center ice but were still prepared for Florida to snag the puck, which they did when Sully’s shot hit the pipes.

Max tracked his guy again, checking him into the boards before he could make his shot on Gally. It was a clean hit and then they were digging for the puck. Harty snuck the puck in between the Florida goalie’s legs, the goal horn blared, and every guy on the Strikers’ bench yelled and jumped up, ready to fist bump Harty and the rest of the scoring line.

The back and forth had Max’s legs gassed and he saw an opening to switch out with the next defense pair. He slid onto the bench, adrenaline rushing through him. He would never get tired of every emotion he felt on the ice and on this bench with his teammates. He was lucky as hell that he got to do what he loved. Playing hockey was the fucking best.

Gabi couldn’t remember the last time she’d been to a hockey game, let alone watched Max play live. She wasn’t an avid hockey fan, but since she’d grown up in Chicago and Montreal, if she was going to support a team, it would’ve been one of them.

“I can’t believe you caved,” Ava said, tilting her head toward Gabi as they watched the game from the family and friends’ box.

Max had offered them seats close to the ice, but with the kids, Ava had wanted them in the box where they weren’t surrounded by screaming fans. The other Striker family members and WAGs were celebrating, but it was different than being in the lower seats.

“Caved?” Gabi asked, knowing full well what Ava was referring to.

“The jersey, obviously,” Ava teased.

“What? Connor and Amelia wanted me to wear it. How could I say no?” Not that she loved having Max’s name across her shoulders, especially after she’d told him she didn’t want his name on her back. She wanted to say it was sweet of him to get it for her, but she knew he did it to tease her.

Ava laughed softly since Elise slept in her arms. Elise looked adorable in her tiny Strikers jersey, with Bastian on the back, of course. She wondered if Max had special ordered that. Her heart warmed at the thought—because it was a nice gesture from him and not for any other reason.

The twins had been beyond excited to come tonight. It was an evening game, but luckily, tomorrow was Sunday, and they could all sleep in. Not that toddlers were known for sleeping in. They were currently halfway through the third period. Connor had fallen asleep next to Ava about five minutes ago, but Amelia was still bouncing in her seat on the other side of Gabi.

Gabi wasn’t sure how many cookies Amelia had consumed tonight, but Ava hadn’t put a stop to it, and the little girl’s sugar high was reaching epic levels.

Gabi was happy to see Ava out with the kids and having fun, a genuine smile on her face as she watched her brother play and as she interacted with some of the other family members in the suite. For that reason alone, Gabi would’ve done anything for her friend.

Even wear Max’s stupid jersey.

Gabi turned her attention back to the ice. Surprisingly, she’d spent most of the night fixated on the game.

Well, on Max, if one wanted to get technical about it.

Not that there was anything wrong with her focus on him since he was the reason they were at the game.

He looked fantastic out there, almost graceful. She bit back a laugh. Max and graceful did not go together at all. Yet she kept watching, and wincing when he got slammed into the boards. She hated the brutality in the game, but she also enjoyed watching it.

It made no sense.

When he’d scored a goal earlier in the game and after a huge hug from his teammates, he’d looked up at the family box and given the kids a salute, and a part of her melted.

It’s not like she was made of ice.

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