Page 48 of Going All In

“You okay?” she leaned in and asked.

“Yep. It’s no big deal giving them tickets. They’re just sitting there if you aren’t going to use them.”

“Thanks,” she said.

“Look how happy they are,” Darcy’s mom said. Jake stifled his laugh and refused to look at Lydia across the table.

“Lydia. Put down the shot glass,” her mother scolded, and Jake bit the inside of his cheek as Darcy squeezed his hand. He caught the minute up and down movement of her shoulders before she got herself under control.

“I’m thirsty. And yes, they’re adorable. How did this all start?” Lydia asked as Jake looked up and spotted her empty shot glass next to her plate.

“Um. We met at Casino Night. Ally had dragged me,” Darcy said.

“Well, I’m glad she did. You never go out anymore. Always at school or working or studying. You need to have a life too, Darcy,” her mother said.

“I’m working on my master’s; it’s important to me,” Darcy said, a slight edge in her voice that made Jake squeeze her hand this time.

“We’re working around her work and school schedule. This is important to her, and I fully support her even if it means I don’t get to have her to myself all the time.” Jake brushed a kiss across her cheek for good measure.

“That’s so sweet. So then what happened?” her mother asked.

“Um. We didn’t get off on the best foot at Casino Night.”

“Oh, Darcy,” her mother started.

“Let her tell the story, Tabby,” Arthur said.

“Anyway, he got my number from Ally, we started talking and went on a few dates, and here we are,” Darcy said, keeping it vague.

They’d ironed out a timeline but had agreed that the fewer details the better, so they didn’t get tripped up.

“Well, we are happy that it’s working out in spite of her schooling,” her mother said, and smiled sweetly.

Jake wanted to jump to Darcy’s defense. How could they not see how amazing this woman was?

“Tell us everything about you. You said your family is in Chicago?” Tabitha asked.

“Yes. My mom and grandmother still live there. I see them at least a few times a year, with holidays and whenever we play in Chicago. I fly them out here as well.”

“What about your father?” she asked.

“Mom. Don’t grill him,” Darcy admonished.

“No. It’s fine. He wasn’t ever in the picture. It’s just me, my mom, and my grandmother. My grandfather passed away when I was finishing high school.”

“Surrounded by women,” Arthur said with a chuckle.

“Strongest women I know. Aside from your daughter, of course.”

“Smooth,” Lydia whispered from across the table.

Jake shrugged. “It’s the truth. I’m very lucky that she agreed to go out with me. Probably should’ve let her believe that I really was a waiter and not a hockey player. Might’ve convinced her sooner.”

“Stop it,” Darcy said, swatting his arm and playing along.

She barely paused when he leaned in to brush a kiss against her temple.

Progress.

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