Page 125 of Defensive Zone

“Gentle, little one. This beard holds great power,” he said.

Gabi or Ava snorted behind him, probably both.

“I wonder what would happen if something happened to your beard,” Gabi said.

He spun around to face her. “You wouldn’t dare,” he said, moving toward her.

“I was just pondering,” she said, tapping her finger to her chin.

And then there was a pop and he was covered in confetti. He hadn’t even seen her hand move.

Connor and Amelia giggled at the table while Ava and Gabi burst out laughing.

“You are so going to get it,” he said, advancing on her while swiping tissue from his face.

“Waffle time,” Ava called out as she pushed between them and set a plate of waffles on the table.

“I couldn’t resist,” Gabi said with a shrug. Her eyes were brimming with humor and he loved it. She’d been serious for as long as he’d known her and he’d like to think that he had a hand in drawing out her funny side.

Among other things.

“To be continued,” he said, wiggling his brows.

“Oh, stop it. Go eat something,” she said.

“Like I said, to be continued.”

Her face bloomed bright red, and she looked away from him as her phone buzzed on the kitchen island.

“What’s the Bunny Hop?” she asked.

He bit back a groan. “Like the dance?” he asked, hopeful.

“Nope. An old friend from college just texted me about some story she read on it about me. Why are there stories about me?” she said, almost to herself.

“Now my mom is calling. Riley just texted, too. What is going on?”

“Gabs, what’s the matter?” Ava asked, coming to stand next to her best friend.

“I have no idea,” Gabi said, meeting his gaze.

Shit.

Nothing good ever came out of that stupid page.

Max linked his fingers with hers and tugged her deeper into the kitchen, away from the kids.

That was ominous.

Her mother texted and Gabi swiped her phone on, pulling up the running text chain with her mom.

Mom: Call me. We need to talk.

Oh god. What was worse than ominous? Because that text was whatever that was.

“You’re freaking me out,” Gabi said.

“It’s going to be fine. The Bunny Hop is this stupid social media page run by a bunch of puck bunnies. They like to spread bullshit rumors and cause drama,” he said.

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