Page 114 of Defensive Zone

“We ready to watch our boys kick some ass?” Amanda asked as she walked through Max’s front door a few nights later.

The Strikers had lost game two in overtime and had flown out to Calgary for two away games two days ago. Because Gabi and Ava couldn’t watch the game with the other WAGs at C&B like tradition because of the kids, Riley had suggested that maybe they could watch at Max’s house. He’d easily agreed. She felt guilty for ever thinking that he didn’t care about his family or that he wouldn’t do everything to put them first.

She wasn’t usually sappy, but maybe it was being in an empty bed for the last two nights that was causing her mushiness. She had video chatted with him each night, but it wasn’t the same.

“Shh, Amanda. No cursing in the house. There are kids here,” Penny admonished her friend.

“Shit. Right. Crap. Sorry, Ava,” Amanda said as Penny shook her head.

“We can’t take her anywhere if she has to be on her good behavior,” Penny teased.

“Please. I’m always on my good behavior. Just ask Cheese,” Amanda said.

“Come on. Don’t hold up the line. We’ve got hot food in our hands,” Sara said from behind Amanda and Penny.

“Yes, yes. Come in,” Ava said, stepping back as Amanda, Penny, Sara, and Sophia walked in, the latter two laden down with food.

“Oh my god, you guys. Are we feeding an army?” Gabi asked.

“I brought apps and dessert from C&B,” Sara said. “You can never have too much of that.”

“And I brought over tons of food from Lanzi’s and tiramisu. I know Sara was in charge of desserts because her lava cake is the freaking best, but I can’t show up at a party without my aunt’s tiramisu,” Sophia said. “Also, never tell my aunt that I said that about Sara’s lava cake.”

“Deal,” Gabi said.

“Yes, I’m starving,” Ava said as they walked into the kitchen and Sara and Sophia set down all the food.

“Hold on. I have more in the car,” Sophia said, walking back out of the house.

“More?” Gabi asked.

“She’s Italian. They don’t know how to make food for less than fifty people,” Amanda said.

A short time later, everyone had a plate piled high with food, the kids were eating away at their kid-sized table in the living room, and the game was about to start.

“Sorry I was running late. My dad needed me to forward something from his computer and then I had to post some social media stuff about Chicklet. Max wanted to take the pup on their road trip,” Riley said, balancing her plate on her leg and holding a glass of wine.

“Of course he did,” Gabi said.

“That is one of my favorite projects that you guys have done. A new puppy every season and for a good cause. Who doesn’t love that?” Penny said.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” Riley said.

The doorbell rang.

“That’s probably Darcy. I’ll get it,” Ava said, passing by Elise and giving her a quick kiss as she bounced in her chair and babbled.

“She’s so cute,” Penny said.

“You know you could have one,” Amanda said.

“We’re working on it. I want to get married first, so that takes priority,” Penny said.

“Hey, guys, sorry I’m late. I was working on some research and lost track of time,” Darcy said, shoving her hair back from her face.

“I basically had to drag her away from her computer,” Ally said, popping up behind Darcy.

“I’m not that bad, and I wasn’t going to miss Jake’s game,” she said. “I mean, not again.”

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