Page 3 of Defensive Zone

Ava was the sister Gabi never had, and now Ava needed her help. She just wished Ava had wanted that help in Montreal or Chicago or anywhere but Max’s home.

“You’re here,” Ava said, pulling open the front door.

Gabi smiled at her best friend, who’d apparently been awaiting Gabi’s arrival. Hopefully, Ava hadn’t noticed the disdain on Gabi’s face as she’d stared up at Max’s oversized house.

Why did one person need that big of a house? It was ostentatious.

“How are you doing, Av?” she asked. It’d been a week since the funeral and twelve days since that initial phone call.

Ava tried to hide the tremble in her lip, but Gabi didn’t miss it. She tugged her friend into her arms, feeling the shudder roll through Ava as the woman took in a deep breath.

“It’s going to be okay, Av. I promise. We’re going to get through this.” Gabi put everything she had behind those words, but honestly, what did she know about losing a partner?

“I’m glad you’re here,” Ava said, squeezing Gabi tight.

“There isn’t anywhere else I’d rather be,” Gabi said.

Ava let out a watery snort. “In my brother’s house? Yeah. Okay.”

Then Ava pulled back and Gabi’s heart pinched at her friend’s tears.

“I’m here for you and the kids.” She could ignore the man of the house. Well, she could try for Ava. Her friend needed her and that would always take precedence.

Where was he anyway?

“Thank you for being here,” Ava said, and Gabi squeezed her friend back into a hug. Nannying her favorite kids wasn’t a hardship.

Gabi had finished her degree in early childhood development a few years ago, but she hadn’t wanted to go into teaching, so nannying was perfect. Her latest charge’s family had moved back to Boston to be closer to family and hadn’t needed Gabi’s services anymore, so she was ready and able to help Ava with the kids for as long as needed.

They were basically her nieces and nephew, anyway.

“Auntie Gabi,” Amelia’s voice called out as the four-year-old barreled into Gabi’s legs, her arms wrapping around Gabi.

“Hi, honey,” Gabi said, tugging the little girl into her arms. Amelia and Connor had turned four back in October, and Gabi wasn’t sure how much they understood about what was going on. They had been told that their father couldn’t be with them, but at four, could they fully grasp that he wasn’t ever coming home? It broke her heart that they wouldn’t have many memories of him as they grew up and that Elise, at four months, would have no memories of Greg.

As much as Gabi hadn’t been a total fan of the man, robbing the children of those memories and that time with their father broke Gabi’s heart.

“Auntie G. Auntie G,” Connor called out, and Gabi braced herself as another pair of arms tangled around her legs from the side.

“Whoa. Hi, buddy,” she said, lowering down into a crouch with Amelia so she could scoop Connor up into a hug as well.

Ava slipped away and came back with a fussy Elise in her arms.

“Guess she wanted to see her Auntie Gabi, too,” Ava said, giving Gabi a weak smile before turning her attention to her newest daughter.

Elise was absolute perfection, with a button nose, big eyes with thick lashes that Gabi envied, and the cutest chubby cheeks. As horrible as the situation was that brought her here, she was excited to spend extra time with them. She’d only seen Elise three times, right after she was born, at the funeral, and today, since Gabi had been working in Portland.

“Okay, how about we go make some lunch?” Gabi asked.

“I’m hungry,” Connor said.

“He’s always hungry,” Amelia said.

Gabi grinned. “I’m assuming Uncle Max has everything we need for grilled cheese. Where is he, anyway?” The man was known for his pranks, and she hated surprises. She had no desire to jump a mile because he felt the need to pop out from behind a wall or something.

“He’s playing hockey,” Connor said.

“Yes. He has an afternoon game in Vancouver and is flying home later tonight. I promise he’s not waiting behind the corner to startle you.” Ava gave a small smile.

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