Page 58 of Defensive Zone

Chapter 11

“What’s up with you and Gabi?” Sully asked Max the following morning.

Max almost stumbled on the treadmill. “What?” he asked.

They were two days into their road trip, and it’d been less than twelve hours since he’d discovered that Gabi liked sleeping in his shirts. Fuck. He would not get hard on the treadmill.

She had him twisted up in knots, especially after leaving him high and dry—or high and hard—the other night in the laundry room. Not that it was her fault that Amelia had wandered downstairs. He’d hung out in the laundry room until he’d heard them going back upstairs. Then he’d gone to his room, not in the mood for four-year-old questions.

And there hadn’t been any moments to get her alone before he had to leave for his trip.

“Spill, man,” Sully said, cutting through Max’s thoughts.

“What are you talking about?”

Sully laughed. “Yeah. Okay. If you think for one second that we aren’t going to grill you after you’ve tormented us for years any time we’ve been serious about a woman, you’re delusional.”

“Yeah, spill,” Nessie said from the next treadmill.

“Don’t know what you’re talking about, you gossipy hens,” he said. “And I’ve never tormented you when it comes to any of you finding the one. It’s called encouragement, assholes. You’d probably still be single if it weren’t for me.”

“That’s fucking rich, man,” Sully said.

Nessie shook his head. “How the hell are we supposed to reason with a lunatic?”

“You’ve known him longer,” Sully said.

“You’d think I would’ve learned by now. Maybe we should ask Ava what’s going on in that house of his.”

“Maybe you need to chill the fuck out. I’ve never been serious about any woman, so I’m a little lost.” Maybe if he stuck to this course, they’d back off.

“You’re full of shit. You were territorial as shit during the family skate when anyone single got near Gabi,” Nessie said. “And then the other night at Lanzi’s.” The man shook his head.

“Again, I’m lost,” he repeated.

Sully barked out a laugh. “Dom, get over here,” he called out.

Dom set down the free weights he was using and headed over to them.

“This should be good,” Harty said, popping up next to Sully, with Jake not far behind.

“What the hell. Is this an intervention? I don’t need one. I have no vices,” Max said. “I’m the picture of health.”

“You’re the picture of someone who’s full of shit; that’s what you are,” Nessie said.

“Really? That hurts, man. After everything I’ve done for you to make you feel welcome on your new team.”

“Shove off, Baz. I’ve been here for over a year,” Nessie said.

“What’s up, guys?” Dom asked.

“So, refresh our memories. During family skate, how would you classify Baz’s behavior when you met Gabi, that gorgeous woman living in his house as a nanny?” Sully said.

“Thin line, man,” Max gritted out.

Dom chuckled. “Let’s see. I was being friendly, maybe flirting a little since she’s hot and I’m single, and this beast tried to take my head off.”

“A bit dramatic, aren’t we? No wonder you love embellishments,” Max said, noting how Dom kept his eyes away from Harty when he said he was single. No one knew exactly what had happened between Dom and Harty’s sister, but they’d been playing around on and off for the last few years.

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