Page 111 of Going All In

“Nothing,” Jake replied, then turned to Charles. “Yes, I can get you some tickets. You just have to ask.”

“I wouldn’t want to assume,” Charles said. Bianca rolled her eyes at her husband.

Her brother almost looked sheepish. Almost.

Jake laughed. “It’s no big deal.”

“Will your mother be able to make it out for one of the games?” her mother asked.

“I hope so. Trying to coordinate with her schedule. We won’t know what the next round schedule is until we know who we’re playing. So far, we’re the only team that swept. We’ll see how Vegas does tonight. They’re up three games to nothing over Winnipeg.”

“Well, I hope she can come out. With your grandmother. We’d love to meet them.”

“Mom. Seriously?” Darcy exclaimed, and Jake squeezed her hand.

“What? You guys are serious, and maybe we should meet Jake’s family.”

“Um. How about I get to meet them first.” She paused and turned to Jake. “I mean, if you want me to meet them.” She dropped her voice. “I’m so sorry about this.”

He smiled and squeezed her hand again.

“I’m sure they would love to meet you all. I’ll let you know if they make it to town,” Jake said.

Whoa. Were they ready for that? Did he want that to happen?

“Let’s see what happens,” Darcy said.

“Great. Now, Jake, I heard somewhere that players have peed in the Stanley Cup. Why would they do that?”

Jake choked on the sip of water he’d just taken. “Uhh. I did hear that. It’s been sanitized since then. Hockey players can get a little crazy after winning the Cup.”

Her father cleared his throat. “You guys were impressive in this round. The whole team looks solid. I told Darcy as soon as she started dating you that you would take home the Cup this year.”

“You never know what will happen on the ice, but I’m hopeful. We all are. So is every other team in the running.”

“I think it’s yours this year,” her father said matter-of-factly.

“Well. Let’s hope you’re right, Arthur,” Jake said. “I hope you all don’t mind me barging in on dinner. The guys were going out after we got back, but I haven’t had a home-cooked meal in a while.”

“Such a charmer, you are,” her mother said. Darcy didn’t know whether to roll her eyes at his over-the-top comments or melt a little at how nice he was to her mom, even after all the crazy things her mother said to him since that first family dinner.

“It’s a shame Darcy doesn’t do a lot of cooking. She never enjoyed it,” her mother said.

“She’s busy with school and running her study group and TAing for one of her professors,” Jake quickly added.

Now Darcy really did melt. Because he meant that. She’d let things slide with her project because she wanted to spend time with him, but he’d never discouraged her from studying. Even if he did recommend multiple study breaks when she was at his place.

Stress relievers were important.

“Thanks, Jake,” she whispered. He squeezed her hand in return.

Dinner was blissfully uneventful after that point, and after an hour, she was finally alone with Jake in the car and heading back to his place. She had her laptop with her and a change of clothes in her bag, so she didn’t need to go to her apartment.

“Were you planning on sleeping here tonight?” he asked, eyeing her bag as they took the elevator up to his condo.

“Maybe. I mean, your bed is way more comfy, and that office chair,” she said, fanning her face.

He barked out a laugh. “Your family loves me for hockey tickets and you love me for that chair. I see how it is.”

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