Page 85 of Going All In

“You know I want you to be happy. I love you. I just get excited because Jake is so great.”

Darcy didn’t even pause. “Yes, he is.”

“You sound so dreamy. I’m glad it’s working out for you two. Remember to find out if Jake can make it to dinner on Sunday,” she said, excitement clear in her voice.

“Yeah. I’ll talk to him.”

“Great. Maybe next time he’ll take you on one of those away game trips.”

“Maybe, Mom. Okay, I have to go study.”

“You study too much.”

“It’s important to me,” she said, wishing her mother could understand.

“Are we goingout for lunch or are you meeting up with the family?” Harty asked as they finished getting dressed after a quick practice that morning in Chicago. They’d arrived yesterday afternoon, and the game was later that night.

He couldn’t wait to see his mom and grandmother. It’d been too long. He’d tried to get them to come out, but his mom was always working. It was something he’d gotten used to as a kid. He hadn’t realized it at the time, but his father never paid a dime of child support when Jake was growing up. The man never held a job for long. His mother had worked her way up the investment banking food chain and made enough to support them. But it meant long hours away from Jake. She’d made many sacrifices for him, and he’d tried to get her to slow down after he’d signed his first big contract, but it wasn’t in her nature—as she mentioned every time he suggested she should retire to some place warm with his grandmother.

“Yes. We’re going to Zorba’s.”

“Of course you are.”

“I’m like family over there, and you can’t beat that food. Want to come?” His grandmother’s friend Toula’s family owned the restaurant. He’d even worked in the kitchen in between hockey practice and hockey games and homework when he was in high school.

He may have even hooked up with Toula’s granddaughter, but no one needed to know about that.

His grandmother and Toula would’ve trussed him up and sent him down the aisle if they’d known. He chuckled. Maybe that’s why he enjoyed Darcy’s family. Her mother’s meddling reminded Jake of his grandmother’s constant need to matchmake.

“Where are we going?” Baz asked, looping his arm over Jake’s shoulder.

Jake groaned. Should’ve kept his mouth shut.

“We don’t want to intrude,” Harty said.

“Yes, we do. Where are we going? That Greek place Jake’s always raving about? I’m in, and starving,” Baz said.

“Fine,” Jake muttered, knowing that Toula wouldn’t care.

“I’m in, too,” Cheesy said. Finn, Fishy, Dom, and Sully also invited themselves.

“Westie, you in too?” Finn asked.

“Nah. Maggie flew in and we’re grabbing lunch with some old friends.” Westie had grown up outside of Chicago with his girlfriend, Maggie. Jake had lived in the city and was a few years older, so they’d never crossed paths while playing high school hockey.

He opened his messaging app on his phone and fired off a quick text to his mom.

Jake:I’m bringing a few of the guys for lunch. Hope that’s okay.

Mom:Can’t wait to see you. You know Toula won’t care. The more the merrier.

Jake:See you soon.

“All right, you can come. Just don’t be an ass,” Jake said to Baz.

“I would never. You, on the other hand,” Baz taunted.

“I will uninvite you so fast,” Jake said.

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