Page 126 of Defensive Zone

“That doesn’t make me feel better,” she said, pulling up the text from Mina, her college friend. Her hockey-obsessed college friend, if Gabi recalled.

Mina: Hey, Gabs, saw you landed a hockey player. Playing nanny with the boss? Naughty, naughty. We should totally catch up.

Gabi shoved her phone in Max’s face. “What the hell, Max?”

“Oh man. Okay, let me log in and see what’s going on,” he said, pulling his phone from his pocket.

“Log in? To a puck bunny page?” she asked.

“Yeah. I made a fake account ages ago to keep tabs on everyone, but I can’t remember the last time I looked at it.” He paused. “Shit,” he muttered.

“What?” she asked, grabbing his phone.

There it was, pictures of them at dinner. She was basically in his lap and she was pretty sure it was right after he’d had his damn hands up her dress. At a freaking restaurant. What the hell had she been thinking?

She scanned the post and the comments.

Baz gets hot and heavy at dinner with his nanny.

She’s the nanny. He’s the hot hockey player and her best friend’s brother. Cliché much.

I read that she was out of a job and now she’s shacking up with him. Baz could do better.

It’s like Pretty Woman. He’s paying her and they’re obviously fucking.

She shoved the phone back at him. She couldn’t read anymore. They weren’t wrong. She was fucking her boss. It didn’t matter if she was helping out her friend. She was sleeping with the man who paid her salary.

That had ick written all over it.

“Gabi, talk to me,” he said, pulling her close.

“Gabi, is everything okay?” Ava asked.

Gabi turned out of Max’s arms and into her best friend’s embrace.

“What did you do, Max?” Ava growled.

“I didn’t do anything. There’s some stupid gossip about me and Gabi, and some pictures. No one takes those bunnies seriously. It doesn’t mean anything, Gabi, love. Come on,” he said.

Gabi turned to look at Max. “But they aren’t wrong. You are paying me to work for your family and we are sleeping together,” she bit out.

“Okay, stop right now. It’s not like that and you know it. Max can’t control what some idiots say or think about your relationship. It only matters what you two think about it. Don’t let them get to you, Gabs. You’re better than that, and you’re better than them,” Ava said, giving Gabi a tight hug.

Max pulled her into his arms. “Gabs. It’s just pictures. They’re jealous because you’re amazing and beautiful, and I love you.”

Oh my god.

“You do?” she asked, shocked that he would blurt that out right now, like he was just stating the obvious. Her heart sped up.

“Of course I do. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted. You’re the calm to my crazy, and I’m clearly bringing out the fun in you,” he said, plucking a piece of confetti from his hair.

“I love you too, Max. Am I insane?”

“I knew you guys would figure out that you were perfect for each other. Now, keep it PG in front of the kids and I’m going to go finish my breakfast,” Ava said.

Gabi was still trying to process everything when her phone buzzed again. She didn’t want to ruin this moment, but her mom was calling this time.

“My mom keeps calling,” Gabi muttered.

---