Page 2 of Going All In

I maneuver around the carefully spaced tables, all set with white linen tablecloths and wineglasses. In the dim lighting, I spot my dad across the room and raise my hand to wave before I realize he’s not with someone. He’s with two someones actually, both of them seated with their backs to me, at a table with five place settings. One, a woman with brown hair streaked with gray, and the other a man with dark brown hair that’s cropped close and broad shoulders. As I walk closer, I can see a bit of the short beard that lines an angular jaw.

My dad finally sees me and returns my wave when I’m near enough to talk. The other two turn around in greeting, and my heart jolts in my chest.

The woman is someone I’ve never met. She looks like she’s about my dad’s age, with laugh lines that crease her soft skin. But that’s not what makes me stop short.

It’s that the man sitting next to her is Maddox.

My heart beats faster and my breath comes in shallow pants as I realize that it’s the same man who’s been inside me, who’s had my nipples in his mouth. The guy I was supposed to go on a first official date with tomorrow night.

And he’s sitting across from my father.

* * *

The woman has stood from her chair and swooped me into a hug, saving me momentarily. “Holly! It’s so nice to meet you.” Her scent envelops me as she holds me tight against her soft body, notes of elegant jasmine and rose.

It takes me a few seconds to get my body to function again after my brain completely misfires at seeing Maddox here, but the physical contact—albeit from a woman I’ve never met—helps to snap me out of my daze. I bring my arms around her, returning the hug, and she finally releases me.

“I’m Judy. Your dad has told me so much about you.” She keeps her hands on my shoulders and holds me at arm’s length.

Am I supposed to know who she is? My dad never told me he knows someone named Judy, let alone who in the world she is to him.

“It’s… nice to meet you,” I manage.

My dad clears his throat. Judy drops her hands and motions to the empty seat next to my dad.

I slide into it, finally making eye contact with Maddox. He lifts an eyebrow and smiles. Does he have any clue what’s going on here?

“This is Maddox, Judy’s son.” My dad motions to Maddox.

I nod in… something. Greeting? Acknowledgement? Confusion?

All my brain can think is,I’ve seen him naked.

My dad is completely oblivious to my mental state for once in his life. “She has two daughters, too. One lives in Boston, so she’s not here tonight, and… there’s Addison.”

A woman who looks to be about my age approaches the table, tossing long red hair over her shoulder. She looks just as confused as I am, so at least I’m not the only one in the dark. “Hi, Mom. Maddox. And…”

Judy introduces my dad and I, and the woman slides into the last empty seat at the table, studying Dad and me with interest.

My dad clears his throat again, even though no one else is talking. It’s always been his way of getting the attention of a room or setting up for a big announcement. As usual, it works, all of us silently looking to him. “So, kids. Judy and I wanted to have dinner with you all tonight to share some news.”

Judy and I. Like they’re a team.

I finally make eye contact with Maddox, whose brow is wrinkled. So, he has no clue, either. What are they…

My dad is reaching across the table. He’s taking Judy’s hand. They’re smiling at each other, like—

“Judy and I are getting married.”

My gaze falls to Judy’s hand, the one that’s touching my dad’s. There’s a diamond solitaire on her left ring finger.

“Mom? That’s amazing! Congratulations!” Addie is the first to react. She jumps out of her chair and hugs her mom, then my dad, then me. “I’m so excited to be getting another sister!”

That’s when I make eye contact with Maddox, and it hits me.Sister.That means that Maddox is about to be my…

No.

* * *

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