Page 47 of Defensive Zone

“What’s a chicklet?” Connor asked.

Riley smiled and slid into the booth next to Amelia, Nessie next to Riley.

Which made Max shift closer to Gabi.

He bit back a chuckle when she did pinch him this time.

“Chicklet is our new rescue puppy. It’s our second season having one. Last year, we had Biscuit, and this year, I let the guys pick the puppy’s name, and they went with Chicklet,” Riley said.

“A puppy?” Amelia cried. “Can we see him, Mommy?”

Ava smiled at Amelia. “That’s up to Riley.”

“You guys should come by the arena this week and meet him,” Riley said.

“That’s a weird name,” Connor said.

“It’s what hockey players call teeth. Especially when they get knocked out,” Nessie said.

“Uncle Max is missing lots of chicklets,” Amelia said.

He spotted Gabi trying to hold back a laugh, while no one else at the table was that generous.

“Just part of the sport, Connor, but I have an awesome set of fake ones to wear when I’m not playing,” he said, grinning at his nephew. He’d been wearing them more now that Ava and the kids had moved into the house. He had never used to wear his veneers when he was home alone, never really thinking about it until now.

“This is amazing,” Gabi said as she polished off the rest of the lasagna in front of her. Mrs. Lanzi had not disappointed when she’d brought out a few platters for their table. Gabi had sampled way more than she should’ve but hadn’t been able to stop from taking one last delicious bite after repeatedly saying she was stuffed.

She was starting to regret the jeans she’d put on before leaving the house. Stretchy pants and skirts should be the required dress code for this place. She laughed.

“What’s so funny?” Ava asked.

“Oh. Nothing,” Gabi said, shifting in her seat and trying not to be acutely aware of the man next to her, radiating heat and driving her to distraction.

“I swear I need to only wear stretchy pants to Lanzi’s,” Riley said.

“Oh my god, I was thinking the same thing,” Ava said.

“Me too,” Gabi said, laughing.

“Lanzi’s never disappoints,” Nessie said.

“I could eat more,” Max said.

Gabi turned to eye him.

“What? I’m a growing boy.”

Then he wiggled his brows at her.

Gah. What was she supposed to do with that?

“Not sideways,” she replied.

He lifted his shirt a few inches and patted his stomach. His rock-hard stomach.

Her cheeks flamed before she quickly looked away.

Damn him to hell.

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