Page 140 of Defensive Zone

“It’s fine,” he said, meeting her eyes for a second before looking around the kitchen and into the living room.

“Sophia came by, and she and Ava took the kids to the park,” she said, battling back her nerves. Her fingers started to twitch.

“Okay,” he said. “And you stayed here? Not doing your job?”

She flinched.

“I deserve that. Can we talk?” she asked, her feet rooted in place.

“Are you leaving?” he asked.

“Do you want me to? I mean, I understand if you do,” she said. Then she took in a deep breath. “No. Nope. I’m not going to keep doing this,” she said, more for herself than him.

She stepped toward him and grabbed his hand. “I’m sorry, Max.”

He stiffened. “Me too, Gabi.”

He looked dejected.

“I’m doing this wrong.”

“No. I get it,” he said.

“I’m not leaving. I want to say I’m done worrying about other’s opinions, but I’m still human, so all I can do is say I’m going to try harder to ignore them. I love you, Max. I love being here with you and helping my best friend through her grief and with her kids. I want to stay. I want to stay with you. I messed this all up and I know I was a coward, but please tell me I haven’t totally wrecked this between us.”

She squeezed his hand and kept her eyes locked on his. She didn’t want him to have any doubts about her feelings for him.

“I can’t go back and forth on this. Especially if your mother is going to get in your head again,” he said.

She sighed. “I told her that I was in love with you and that you made me happier than anyone else in this world, and she was going to have to accept that. I’m all in, Max. I’m truly sorry that I let you believe I wasn’t for even a second. I’m the calm to your crazy and you’re the comedy to my drama. Or documentary. I wouldn’t consider myself dramatic. Something serious. You know what I mean.”

He didn’t say anything, but she saw a glimpse of a smile.

“I promise that this is it. I love you. I’m here for the long haul, even if that means moving to Houston if you get traded. I mean, if you still want me to,” she said, wishing he would put her out of her misery and say something.

He pulled his hand from hers and she tried not to wilt. Was she too late?

Then he leaned down and cupped her face.

“I was kind of hoping for a grand gesture, but this will do, I guess.”

“Oh, Max,” she said with a half-hearted laugh.

“And I love you, too. That didn’t change because we had a blip in our course. I’m going to take you anywhere I go, as long as you’ll let me.”

“I love you, Max Mortimer,” she teased.

He growled. “Stop middle-naming me.”

She grinned. “It’s growing on me.”

“I have something better to grow on you,” he said.

She groaned. “Terrible, Max. Just terrible.”

“I believe the word you are looking for is amazing,” he said, and then he leaned down and sealed his lips to hers.

She sighed against his mouth, melting into his body. Her curves fit perfectly to all his hard angles, like the perfect puzzle.

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