Page 131 of Defensive Zone

“Why are you back already and not watching Max play?” Ava asked.

“Because Connor is sick and it’s unfair for me to leave you here with three little kids. Especially because I’m supposed to be the nanny,” she said, exasperated. Why didn’t they understand that?

“Gabs, you have to stop this. I know that those stupid social media comments and your mother did a number on you, but at no point did I or Max think you were taking advantage of us. I needed help and you stepped up. You moved into this house to help me, and not just with the kids, but with me,” she drew out. “I’m not saying I’m healed or grief-free, because who knows if that’s even possible, but you being here is all the help I need.”

“The last thing I want you to think is that I’m taking advantage of our friendship,” Gabi said, flopping back on the couch. “I hate being gossip fodder. It makes my mom believe her opinions are right.”

“That’s what this is all about, isn’t it? Your mom’s opinions. Gabs, this is your life.”

“I know, and that’s what I told her. Sometimes I just have trouble being as strong on the inside as my words claim me to be, if that makes any sense.”

“Of course it makes sense. Would it be easier if you didn’t ‘work’ for Max?”

“Probably, but this is about what you need,” she said.

“It should also be about what you need,” Ava said.

She was still thinking about Ava’s words when Max walked into his room two hours later. He’d texted her after the game ended, and she’d told him she’d gone home to make sure Connor was okay. She just hadn’t told him when she’d left.

“Hey, you,” he said, stripping down to his boxers and climbing into bed.

All that skin on display made her mouth water. She was insatiable around him, and she’d never been like that before. Not that any of her past relationships had been anywhere as close to as amazing as hers was with Max, in and out of the bedroom.

Her cheeks heated as he tugged her into his chest.

“You didn’t want to go out with the guys?” she asked.

“Not when you’re here in my bed. We’re flying out in the morning, so most of the guys went home to bed anyway. How’s Connor?”

“Ava said he’s doing a lot better. Fever is gone and he’s sleeping. It was probably a quick bug and he’ll be back to himself tomorrow,” she said, brushing a strand of his hair off of his cheek.

“Good to hear. I’ll have to show him the clip from my goal. Got it just for him, of course,” he said.

She cupped his jaw; his beard scratched her palm. “How are you the sweetest?”

“It’s a gift,” he said with a grin, and then he lowered his lips to hers, kissing her gently.

It was such a tender kiss that she melted into him. His kisses made the thoughts about why they shouldn’t be together vanish from her mind.

“Max,” she whispered when they came up for air.

“I’m glad you were at the game tonight. Knowing you were there cheering me on was the extra motivation I needed.”

“I didn’t see the last period,” she started.

“Because you were gossiping about my awesomeness with the other WAGs?” he asked, wiggling his brow.

“Um. No. I actually left right before the start of the third.” She sighed, wondering if she should even tell him. “I, ah, I felt bad about leaving Ava home with the kids, especially a sick kid. I’m the nanny. This is my job. I came home to check on him, to do my job,” she said.

He pulled back, and she instantly missed his warmth.

“Gabi. Ava said she was okay at home by herself and she would call if she needed one of us.”

“I know, but it’s my job.”

“Okay, stop. Yes, you moved in to help Ava with the kids, but you were never just a nanny and you know it. Hell, you’ve been a member of this family since Ava brought you home when we were all kids twenty years ago. That I’m paying you to help out is just because I wanted to help Ava anyway I could and she needed someone that she could trust. That was always going to be you. The fact that you’re an actual nanny was icing on the cake. How many times are we going to go back to this?”

There was a touch of frustration that he’d let slip out, and she hated that she couldn’t seem to get past this. She was letting the opinions of other people dictate her happiness and her worth. She should have been stronger than that.

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