Page 26 of Defensive Zone

Chapter 6

They’d won tonight, barely. He fucking hated shootouts, but at least it’d gone their way. They’d walked … well, some of them had limped … away with their two points over Dallas.

The Strikers were still solidly in second place in their division, but there weren’t too many games left in the regular season, so every game was even more of a battle. He’d wrenched his knee going into the boards tonight. Nothing major. The trainer had taped him up, he’d iced it between periods, and he’d been good to go, but he was looking forward to his bed. They were flying out late tomorrow morning to Boston for a quick road trip, so he needed decent sleep tonight. Boston was first in the league right now.

He wondered if the kids had watched the game.

Scratch that.

He wondered if Gabi had watched the game, maybe in his jersey.

He chuckled. He couldn’t get her out of his head. He’d never been drawn to her when they were younger, but there was something about her. It was probably because she didn’t put up with his shit. He admired that, her feistiness.

He thought about how feisty she might be if he ever got her into his bed.

He needed to stop those thoughts immediately.

1.) She found him annoying.

2.) She was Ava’s best friend.

3.) He was paying her to be a nanny. Was that like a taboo boss-employee relationship?

And now he was having inappropriate thoughts about her again.

He snorted.

Like they ever left.

He walked into the house, dropping his gear bag in the mudroom.

That should make her happy.

The kitchen light was on, but the house was quiet. It was almost one in the morning.

He found Ava and Gabi curled up under blankets on his couch, both snoring softly. Two empty bottles of wine sat on the coffee table next to an empty carton of chocolate peanut butter cup ice cream.

Damn. That one was his favorite. He’d barely had any of it.

“Max.” Gabi’s voice was groggy as she stirred. The blanket pooled in her lap.

She wasn’t wearing his jersey.

“Looks like I missed quite the party,” he said, gesturing toward the coffee table.

“Max?” Ava asked as she sat up.

“Hey, little sis. Was this to celebrate our win? It was a nail bitter.” He grinned.

“What? Uh. No,” Ava said.

“Why’s your face all blotchy? Too much wine, Av?” he asked.

Gabi glared at him.

“What?” he asked with a shrug. “Clearly, you two indulged. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.”

“Um. No. I should go to bed. Check on Elise. I can’t believe we fell asleep,” Ava said, not fully meeting his gaze.

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