Page 15 of Going All In

Ethan’s parents and another older couple stood around the island with Ally. And Darcy.

Darcy’s eyes widened when she caught sight of him, and maybe he puffed out his chest a bit.

What the hell was wrong with him?

“Hello, everyone,” he said.

“Mom, stop.” Darcy almost sounded frantic when he got close to them.

“Jake? Like your Jake?” the woman asked.

“What?” he asked, curious about the panic in Darcy’s voice.

“Mom, can I talk to you?” Darcy said, gripping her mother’s arm.

“Is this the guy? Jake? Ooh, well done, Darcy. Very handsome. Like that vampire you always liked on that cable show,” she said excitedly.

“Mom.”

Darcy’s entire face was flushed. It looked good on her. She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her pink-tinged ear and Jake’s fingers itched to feel how soft her hair was.

Focus on what the hell is going on.

“Hi, Jake, I’m Darcy’s mom. She hasn’t told us nearly enough about you. How do you know Ethan and Penny? Or are you just here because of Darcy?”

“Uh, I’m on the Strikers with Ethan,” he said, still trying to figure out what was happening as the woman beamed at him.

“Ooh, he’s a hockey player. Darcy, I don’t know why you are so upset right now. I’m just trying to get to know your boyfriend.”

“I’m sorry, what?” Jake asked.

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