Page 149 of Defensive Zone

Epilogue

Two months later

Today was his Cup day. Each player of the winning team had the Cup for one full day to celebrate with their friends and family, and today was Max’s day. It was only fitting that they were in Montreal to celebrate. Two weeks ago, he’d helped Ava pack up her house in Chicago and ship everything she wanted to his house in San Francisco.

Where he was staying put. The Strikers had protected him, and it was Dom who was headed to Houston. He was going to miss the guy, but he was grateful that it wasn’t him.

And he was excited to have his sister and the kids with him, at least for a while longer. Yes, it hindered his goal of christening every surface of his house with Gabi, but they were chipping away at it.

“What are you grinning about now?” Gabi asked, wrapping her arm around his waist as they stood in his parents’ kitchen. His mom was stirring something on the stove and had her back to him. The kids were playing outside with his dad and Ava, while he pretended to help Gabi and his mom cook.

“Nothing.”

Gabi tutted and then stood on her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

“See, just like salad dressing,” his mother said, with a sigh at the end. She was beyond thrilled that he and Gabi had finally realized what was right in front of them.

His mother’s words, not his.

Not that she was wrong.

“What?” Gabi asked.

“Remember. She said we were like oil and vinegar, not oil and water,” Max said.

Gabi chuckled.

“Your mom will be here soon, right?” his mother asked Gabi.

Gabi nibbled on her lower lip and Max squeezed her hand. They’d had dinner with Gabi’s mom a few nights ago, and the tension between Gabi and her mother was still there. It was getting better, and Max did everything he could to charm the woman, but at the end of the day, all that mattered was that Gabi believed him when he said he was all in and that he loved her.

“Yes, any minute,” Gabi said.

“I can’t believe this is what you wanted for your Cup day, Max. Dinner at home. It’s a little boring for the boisterous prankster of the Strikers,” his mom said.

Gabi snorted. “Is that a new title for you?”

“I still prefer Prank Sinatra.”

“You’re ridiculous,” she said, with a soft laugh.

“And it’s not like we didn’t do anything,” he said. They’d started the day with a small gathering at Town Hall and then he’d brought the Cup to the children’s hospital for the kids to see. That’s all he’d really wanted.

Would people have expected a crazy party from him? Sure. Did he care? Nope. He’d gone to more than one insane Cup party over the last two months when his other teammates were hosting. He didn’t need that. He just wanted to celebrate with the people who meant more to him than anyone else. The people whose endless support had gotten him to where he was today.

“I guess you are pretty amazing,” she said.

He grinned. “I’ve been trying to tell you that for ages.”

“Don’t ruin the moment, Max,” she groused.

“Just stating the facts. Like, did you know that I’m amazing and you’re perfect?”

He loved the blush that stole across her cheeks, right before he leaned in and pressed a kiss to her lips. Her gasp was soft against his mouth and he would’ve given anything to spirit her away someplace so they could be alone.

Tonight. Definitely tonight.

“Your mom is right here,” she said against his lips.

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