Page 144 of Defensive Zone

“That name is terrible. Don’t encourage him, Gabi,” Nessie said.

Max glared at him.

“Are you fucking with me right now?” he asked.

She swiped her finger through the cream on his cheek and held it in front of his eyes. “Whipped cream. I promise. Like I would do anything to harm your masterpiece,” she said, mirth in her eyes.

“You are so going to get it later,” he growled low.

“I hope so. Now go clean that off and get out on the ice,” she said, smacking his ass.

He stared at her in disbelief. She was not the same woman who had walked into his house a few months ago.

“Fucking hell, I love you,” he said.

“Love you, too. Now go win the Cup. Connor asked for a goal, too.”

“Of course he did,” Max said.

“Bye, boys,” she said as she walked out of the room.

“Oh man, she is perfect for you. And we finally pranked your ass,” Sully said, smirking.

“Right. Right. Funny dickheads, all of you,” he grumbled.

“Now that that is over, let’s get out on the ice and kick Boston’s ass,” Bugsy said, holding back laughter. “Baz, get cleaned up and get out there.”

“I can’t believe that just happened,” he muttered, wiping away the rest of the whipped cream. He’d tasted it and it was definitely whipped cream. He couldn’t believe they’d gotten him, that she’d gotten him.

“I know you’re probably pissed, but how epic is your girlfriend?” Nessie asked, looping his arm over Max’s shoulders.

“Don’t for one second think there won’t be retaliation, but she’s amazing, right?” he said, grinning.

“I’m happy for you, man. It’s about time someone put you in your place,” Sully said. “You know, for fun.”

“Right. Right,” he grumbled, but he couldn’t stop smiling. If he’d doubted how right she was for him, that had been obliterated. Fuck. He loved her.

“Now, how about we get out there and win?” Cheesy said.

“Absolutely,” Max said.

He got cleaned up and then they were heading down the tunnel for game fucking seven.

“Oh man, his face, you guys,” Gabi said as she sat with her friend. Then she burst out laughing again.

“Cheese snuck his phone in to take pictures,” Amanda said, kneeling on one of the seats in the row in front of Gabi, Ava, and a few of the other WAGs.

She swiped her phone on and showed them the various looks of outrage and murder on Max’s face as he swiped away the whipped cream.

“That’s freaking amazing,” Riley said, wiping tears from her eyes. “You got him good.”

“We bow down to your awesomeness,” Amanda said.

“Thanks, guys. It was fun getting back at him after all of these years,” Gabi said.

Ava chuckled. “That was perfect, and just what he needed—well deserved.”

Ava wrapped her arm around Gabi’s shoulder. “I’m so damn happy for you two. One day, hopefully, we’ll be real sisters. Not that you aren’t pretty much already.”

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