Page 17 of Going All In

Nope. Nope. Nope.

“I’m sorry about that, and you’ll probably never see her again, and eventually I’ll tell her the truth, or tell her we broke up, so no worries. Yeah, I’m going to try to enjoy the party and forget that this happened. I am sorry for getting you mixed up in this, even if it was just for a second.”

Then she bolted from the room, leaving him standing there. He looked like he wanted to say something else, but judging from his past cocky remarks, she was not interested.

“Oh my god, what just happened?” Ally said, coming out of nowhere and linking arms with Darcy.

“A goddamn disaster in Mrs. Collins form, aka my mother. Jesus, what must they all think about me now? I know they heard everything. Thank god it was just our parents and Penny and Ethan. Can you imagine if the team was here? Speaking of, why was he so damn early?”

“He said he was coming by early. I don’t know why. What happened in the bedroom?” she asked, wiggling her eyebrows.

Darcy swatted her friend. “Stop it. Nothing happened. I quickly told him about lying to my mom and not to worry about it because they’ll never see each other again.”

“What did he say?”

“A few cocky remarks, of course. Then I bailed before I could hear anything else. Can we please get a drink now? Or maybe I should go home before I embarrass myself again.”

“Stop. Maybe it won’t come up at dinner with our parents. And we can tell Penny and Ethan that your mom was just confused.”

“Please. You know that will be all my mom talks about at dinner. Ooh, Darcy finally found someone, and he’s tall and handsome and a hockey player and—”

“I am pretty amazing.” Jake’s voice carried over her shoulder and she spun around.

“And irritating and cocky and go away, please,” she fired back, then pulled Ally away from Jake, with Ally laughing the entire time.

“See. I should just go home.”

“Nope. You’re going to pull up your big girl panties and enjoy this party. No bailing,” she said, pointing a judgy finger at Darcy.

“Fine,” Darcy mumbled. But the first sign of Jake saying anything about it and she was gone.

“Oh my god. Can we talk about your face when your mom said his name? Holy shit, Darc. Imprinted right here,” she said, pointing to her forehead with her free hand. “Forever.”

“I hate you,” she mumbled.

“Come on. Let’s get that drink,” Ally said, guiding her toward the bar set up on one side of the massive kitchen.

Within moments, Darcy had a drink in her hand and Penny had graciously allowed her to have half of a triple chocolate cookie.

Without question.

Darcy had always liked Penny.

***

Over the nextfew hours, she tried to enjoy the party. The guys were entertaining, but as soon as Jake got too close, she made her excuses and moved on to another group.

Yes, it was childish. But she didn’t want to talk to him. She was being a grownup and staying at the party, but she would not engage with the man. He’d probably just tease her about their fake relationship.

He was definitely the type.

And not her type.

No matter how the corners of his eyes crinkled slightly when he laughed hard. Or how his hair fell over his forehead when he moved a certain way.

Stop. Right. Now.

Ally was across the room flirting with a player who wasn’t Dom. Much to Dom and Ethan’s annoyance. Her friend continually enjoyed playing with fire. Something Darcy strove to avoid at all costs. Until she’d opened her damn mouth and mentioned Jake to her mother.

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