Page 89 of Defensive Zone

Max squeezed her shoulder. He couldn’t imagine how much her life had changed in a few short months. It frustrated him and broke his heart to see glimpses of her pain. She did her best to hide it.

“Awesome. So what are we drinking? Martinis? Margaritas?” Penny asked.

Ava laughed. “I’m not a big drinker, so maybe just a glass of white wine.”

“Coming right up,” Adam said from behind the bar. “Great to see you again, Av. I was sorry to hear about everything.”

“Thank you.” She wrapped her hand around the ball of the wineglass.

“And even more sorry to hear you have to live with this guy,” Adam said, gesturing toward Max.

“How many times do I have to tell you guys that I’m a damn delight? Who wouldn’t want to live with me?” Max said, laying on the humor. He wanted to lighten the mood, to make sure Ava had fun tonight and was able to relax with friends.

“Does he know what delight means?” Harty stage whispered to Gabi.

Her laugh flooded the room and made his cock harden. It was going to be a long night, after a very long few days. He was already looking for ways to get her alone tonight.

“Just ignore him when he’s delusional,” she teased, meeting his gaze.

“That’s all the time,” Sully piped in.

“Everyone’s a damn comedian tonight,” Max groused.

“He’s so sensitive,” Gabi said, patting his arm.

His muscles bunched under her hand and she lingered for a split second, the tension building.

Yes. He needed to find a dark corner somewhere.

“He can dish it, but he never could take it,” Ava said, getting in on the lies.

“You used to be my favorite sister,” he said.

She laughed. “I’m your only sister.” Then she paused. “Well, Gabi’s like your sister. Maybe she’s your favorite.”

Gabi started coughing.

“You okay?” Ava asked her friend.

“Just went down the wrong pipe,” she said, lifting up the glass of wine.

Her cheeks were pink, and he watched her tongue peek out and lick the corner of her lips. He bit back a groan.

“Definitely not like a sister,” he heard Nessie mutter behind him, laughter in his voice.

Max refused to even acknowledge his friend.

“Oh good, you two are here,” Riley said, pushing past Max to hug Ava and Gabi.

Once everyone had greeted everyone else, they all grabbed their drinks and settled around the bar in groups.

Ava and Gabi went to sit at one of the tables Adam always reserved for them with Penny, Riley, and a few of the other WAGs. He wanted to stick to Gabi’s side so he could tease and touch her, but that would’ve been too obvious. So now he was nursing a beer at the bar and trying not to look over at their table too much.

“Oh man, you have it bad,” Nessie said.

“What?” he asked.

Sully barked out a laugh. “He thinks he’s slick.”

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