Page 16 of Defensive Zone

“Yeah, he’s way more ticklish here,” Connor piped in, just before his little fingers attacked Max’s waist.

“I’m crying uncle again,” Max said as he dramatically sank to the floor, chuckling.

The sweetest laugh flooded the room, and he glanced up, meeting Gabi’s gaze. Her eyes sparkled as she laughed, her cheeks and upper chest pink. He’d gladly accept this torture to see her look like that, finally having some fun, even if it was at his expense.

He still didn’t know why she was always so uptight, especially when it came to him, but she’d always been that way.

“What’s going on in here?” Ava’s voice cut through his thoughts.

“We’re playing,” Connor said.

Ava smiled. Max had missed that smile. He was trying to do everything he could for his sister, but he never felt like it was enough. It was one of the reasons he’d pushed so hard for her to come to San Francisco. He wanted to make sure she had everything she could possibly need.

“Well, it’s bedtime, so no more playing,” Ava said. “What book do you want to read tonight?”

“Here, I’ll take Elise so you can read to them,” Gabi said, reaching for Elise, who was curled up against Ava’s shoulder.

“No, Uncle Max has to tell us a story,” Amelia said.

“Yes, we want Cornelius,” Connor said.

“Is that one of your personalities, Max?” Gabi asked, smirking.

“No, it’s a polar bear, Aunt Gabi,” Amelia said, her face very serious.

“Yes. And he has a best friend. It’s a narwhal. They’re the unicorns of the sea, didn’t you know?” Connor said.

“I had heard that,” Gabi said, smiling down at Connor.

“Then settle in and let’s get started,” Max said.

“I should probably switch out that last load of laundry I put in,” Gabi said, still standing in the doorway.

“No, Auntie Gabi, you have to stay here,” Amelia said, walking toward Gabi and grabbing her hand to pull her into the room.

“Okay, fine.”

“My storytelling is not to be missed,” he boasted, and then he chuckled when she rolled her eyes at him again. He hadn’t had too many story times with the kids since they’d arrived between game nights and road trips, but he loved weaving stories for them. They got so excited, hanging on his every word.

“Fine,” she said.

“He’s not bad, Gabi,” Ava said, sitting down on one of the empty beds, careful not to jostle Elise.

“Thanks for the high praise,” he deadpanned.

“All right, I’m staying,” Gabi said, sitting down next to Ava and holding her hands out. “You relax, I’ll take Elise. I need some baby snuggles anyway.”

“And an excuse to bail if she starts crying,” Max swore he heard Ava mutter.

“Come on, Uncle Max,” Connor said.

“Okay. Everyone ready? I wonder what Cornelius and Narly have been up to recently.”

He sank down on one of the full-size mattresses in the room. It wasn’t nearly big enough for him, but at least he wasn’t squeezing into a twin bed with both kids. Hell, he’d probably break it. When he’d bought the house over a year ago, he’d wanted to make sure he had rooms set up for his family whenever they wanted to visit. Connor and Amelia had helped him pick out the furnishings, and when Ava had suggested twin beds or twin bunk beds, he’d ordered two full-size beds that they could each grow into and he wouldn’t risk breaking.

“Okay, let’s see. What should I call this one? Cornelius the Clumsy Hockey Playing Polar Bear and His Best Friend Narly the Narwhal.”

“That’s quite the title,” Gabi interjected.

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