Page 48 of Defensive Zone

“No one wants to see you with your shirt up, Baz. This is a family restaurant,” Nessie chided his teammate.

“Yes, exactly,” Gabi agreed, trying to rein in her swirling thoughts.

“Liars. Everyone wants to see this perfection,” he gloated.

She snorted out a laugh. “Doubtful.”

It would do her a world of good if she could just remember that he was a ridiculous clown.

She was lying to herself, but she’d work on that later.

“So harsh, Gabster,” he said.

“We’ve talked about this, Max,” she said.

“So stern, Gabster.” He drew out the nickname.

She turned slightly and glared at him. “I swear you’re as annoying as you were when we were kids.”

“Okay, you two, stop,” Ava said, but Gabi heard the humor in her best friend’s voice.

Ava was used to their back-and-forth arguing. Maybe their banter brought up good memories of growing up or a sense of normalcy that she needed, because Ava never chastised them when they got going. Well, except if they were getting too loud and the kids were asleep.

Like she could justify arguing with Max as doing something to make Ava laugh.

No. She argued with Max because even if his kisses rocked her to her toes, he was still irritating as hell.

“Sorry, Av. So, we should order dessert, right?” Max asked.

“Can we try everything like we did with dinner?” Amelia asked.

“Definitely not. It’s getting late and I don’t need you hopped up on sugar.”

“Are you referring to the kids and Baz or just Baz?” Nessie asked.

Gabi snorted. “Max definitely does not need more sugar.”

“Because I’m already extra sweet,” he said, batting his lashes.

Gabi rolled her eyes.

“I love it,” Riley said, laughing.

“And I’m an adult,” Max pouted.

“Are you?” She couldn’t resist one last taunt.

“You two are hysterical,” Riley said.

“They’ll never change,” Ava said, a smile on her face, which made staying in the same house as Max worth it.

She was kidding herself if she thought that’s all it was, especially after the other night.

Ugh. It served no purpose thinking about those kisses, but she couldn’t stop.

“Uncle Max, can you tell us another Cornelius story?” Amelia asked two hours later as the kids got ready for bed.

Gabi was surprised that he was home with them. A few of the other Strikers had stopped into Lanzi’s while they were there and had mentioned grabbing a drink at a local bar, but Max had turned them down. They’d teased him, but here he was. He had been spending a lot of free time at home with the kids and Ava.

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