Page 97 of Going All In

Chapter 19

“Can I goto the WAGs’ room with you, Darcy? I know I’m not really a WAG, but you girls seem to have so much fun with your hockey players. I’ve been following a few hockey WAG Instagram pages. I’ve only seen two pictures of you with Jake. You should send more.”

“Seriously, Mom, take a breath,” Darcy said before she shoved a barbeque-chicken-covered nacho in her mouth. Jake had managed to get six tickets together so the Collins family could all watch the game. Lydia had already invited herself to C&B after the game, and Charles was decked out in full Strikers gear, including a Cheesy jersey that Jake had gotten signed for her brother. The captain was Charles’s favorite player. At least her dad was wearing Jake’s jersey, happily polishing off a hot dog, and not causing her grief.

She loved her dad.

And her mother. Dear god, her mother would not stop. She’d already managed to tell the entire row in front of them that Jake was dating her Darcy. They made a lovely couple. Lydia had snickered at that and motioned the act of taking a shot. Darcy looked longingly toward the direction of the WAGs’ suite, wishing she could escape, but there was no way in hell she was bringing her mother in there.

When Jake had winked at Darcy and waved at the entire family during warmups, she thought her mother was going to burst with excitement, or at least need some smelling salts.

“Hi, Jake,” she’d called out and waved, while telling everyone how sweet Jake was.

Good god, it was embarrassing. Darcy had been filling her face with food ever since.

“So, can we?” her mother asked again.

“Just wives and girlfriends and family. Sorry, Mom.”

“But we’re family. Or we could be if he’d propose. Think that will happen? He clearly is in love with you, and who wouldn’t love our little Darcy? I mean, this is what I’ve wanted for you for so long. You two are adorable together.” She paused, took a breath, and tilted her head. “Don’t think I don’t know about that shot game, Lydia Jean.”

“Mom. What?” Lydia sputtered and Darcy chuckled. Served her sister right for being a pain in the ass about this. One day her mother would set her sights on Lydia again, and Darcy couldn’t wait.

“Your sister found a wonderful man, and we are all happy for her. Maybe a big wedding. No eloping and no Vegas,” her mother continued, and Darcy wanted to sink into her seat.

“Mom. You have to stop. First of all, Jake and I have only been dating a few months. Second, even if he did propose for some insane reason, I’m not getting married for at least a few years. I have to—”

“Yes. Finish school. I know, it’s very important,” her mother interjected.

“It is important. Jesus, Mom. Stop trying to rush me to the damn altar,” Darcy said, her voice rising at the end, causing more than a few people to turn in their direction. Now she was causing a scene. “Sorry,” she muttered to the people around them.

“Enough, Tabby.” Her father finally butted in. “How about we focus on the game and not Darcy’s love life, at least until the final buzzer, okay?”

“Fine. But I just want what’s best for her,” her mother said with a huff.

“Yes, we all do. And what’s best for her is for us to focus on this game and make sure the Strikers win,” her father said.

Darcy laughed. “You know you have no control over who wins tonight, right, Dad?”

She could kiss her dad for steering the conversation away from her love life. When Jake had offered up the tickets for the entire family, she should’ve kicked him in the shin as soon as her mother started gushing with excitement. She’d hoped they could enjoy the game, but her mother was driving her crazy. She wanted a quick win so she could escape the torture.

That was harsh, even for her. She knew they just wanted her to be happy, but the way her mother went about that made Darcy lose her mind sometimes.

“You don’t know that. Positive thoughts only,” he said, turning his attention back to the game just as the goal horn sounded—for the other team. He turned to glare at Darcy and his wife.

“Hey. We didn’t do that,” Darcy said, biting back her chuckle. Hockey fans were almost as superstitious as the players.

“Well, now it’s tied up, and if they lose, I bet Jake won’t invite us back to another game,” her father said.

“I highly doubt he would hold you responsible,” she said, rolling her eyes. Her entire family was ridiculous on one level or another.

Crap. What did that say about her?

“You never know. Now pay attention,” her father admonished before he took a gulp of his beer and watched the ice.

“Oh look, Jake has the puck. I hope he gets a goal,” her mother said, and Darcy focused on Jake.

He’d looked amazing tonight. No penalties. Already had one goal and she hoped he was on his way to another one. One of Dallas’ defensemen poked his stick out toward Jake, and it tangled with Jake’s skates. Then he was on the ice, and the puck was snagged by another Dallas defensemen.

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