Page 77 of Stick Fight

“Didn’t need to. The kids soaked me.”

She chuckles and my heart stumbles a beat as she licks a stray bead of water from the corner of her mouth, and damn, yeah, I’m definitely going to need that pool later.

“Maybe I’ll jump in, after I eat,” I say, voice low.

“Hey, Gabs,” Noah calls over his shoulder. “Hamburger or hotdog?”

“Hamburger,” she replies, then glances at the table where all the kids are already munching away. They grin at her like they’re all in on some inside joke.

“What’s going on?” I ask, narrowing my eyes, sensing something bubbling beneath the surface.

“Nothing,” she says, too quickly. She takes the plate Noah hands her and walks away without looking back, heading straight for the toppings table. But the air feels different now. Charged. Like something’s shifting, even if I can’t quite see it yet.

Noah hands me a plate stacked high with a perfectly charred burger, and I follow Gabby toward one of the tables. We load up on toppings. She carefully places pickles and lettuce like it’s art. I just slap mine on with zero finesse and we take seats across from Taylor and Elias.

Laughter erupts from the kids’ table as Ash lets out a snore loud enough to shake the entire deck.

“That’s your future, Elias,” I say with a grin, jerking my thumb toward the human chainsaw.

Taylor wrinkles her nose. “Between finishing school and keeping up with hockey, we’ve actually been talking about getting a nanny.”

“Yeah?” I lift my brows. “You should talk to Tanner. He’s got a nanny.”

“Me,” Gabby chimes in, holding her hand high like she’s claiming a title.

“And like Ash, Tanner still has a hard time keeping his eyes open,” I joke.

Gabby laughs, warm and easy. “That’s because he insists on doing all the night feedings and early mornings. Says it’s only fair, since Maeve handles it when he’s traveling.”

“Aww,” Taylor sighs, resting her hand on Elias’s lap.

He quirks a brow at her. “Is that your way of asking if I’m signing up for all-night duty too?”

She bats her lashes, playing innocent. “Maybe.”

“Yes, babe,” he says immediately. “Of course, I’m doing that too.”

He leans in and kisses her, all soft and sweet, and just loud enough to earn a groan from Kalen, who’s pulling out a chair for Sahara nearby.

“Get a room,” he mutters, to his sister, Taylor, and his best friend, Elias.

Gabby chuckles and then perks up. “Speaking of nannies. Maeve just told me they think they’ve finally found someone.”

She says it with a smile, but there’s a flicker of something else there. Sadness, maybe. Her fingers brush against her plate and I rest my hand on her leg.

“That’s great,” I say quietly. “But I get it. You’ve been there every day. That’s not easy to let go of.”

She nods, eyes a little misty. “It’s just… watching Stella grow has been amazing. I’m going to miss her.”

“I’m sorry,” I say, and mean it.

She shrugs, trying to play it off, but the sadness lingers. “I’ll visit.”

“Wait,” Taylor says, picking up on it. “Does that mean… you’re free? Like, you might be looking for another nanny job?”

Gabby opens her mouth, hesitating. “Ah…”

Taylor’s eyes go wide and she shakes her head fast, like she’s catching herself. “Oh, right. No, you…” Her voice trails off, and Gabby gives a small shake of her head as she clears her throat, like she’s sending a message.

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