Page 115 of Second Chance with the Single Dad Goalie
But the fear of history repeating itself still lingers.
Chapter twenty-two
Blake
Istep into the restaurant, scanning the room until I spot Olivia, head buried in her phone, fingers moving across the screen like whatever she’s typing is urgent.
For a second, I hesitate. Then I exhale sharply and walk toward her.
She doesn’t notice me until I pull out the chair across from her and sit down. Her head jerks up, eyes widening just slightly before she molds her expression, and smiles.
“Hi, Blake.”
“Hello.”
Now that I’m sitting across from her, I take her in fully. Olivia hasn’t changed much in the past few years. She’s still effortlessly beautiful - sharp cheekbones, smooth caramel skin, and dark, expressive eyes that once held a spark of mischief but now seem…, calmer. More subdued. Her hair is pulled into a sleek ponytail, and she’s dressed in a simple yet elegant navy blouse. Understated. Unlike the Olivia I once knew, who loved standing out.
A waiter appears, placing menus in front of us. Olivia glances up at him and smiles. “Just coffee for me, please.”
I nod. “Same.”
The waiter disappears, leaving an odd silence between us.
Olivia shifts slightly in her seat and then exhales. “Thanks for coming.”
I give a small nod. “Yeah, well…!” I trail off, not really sure how to finish that sentence.
The waiter arrives with our coffees - black for me, caramel latte for her.
She sighs. “I wasn’t sure if you’d actually come.”
“And why would you think that?”
She just shrugs, takes a sip of her drink, and stares out the window.
She presses her lips together briefly before speaking. “The reason I asked to see you today is so I can see you one last time.” A small pause. “You know, I meant what I said yesterday. I regret leaving.”
I study her, but there’s no defensiveness on her face. No excuses. Just an even, open gaze. She’s watching me, waiting for some kind of reaction.
“Regret doesn’t change anything, Olivia.”
"I know." Her fingers tighten around her mug. "But I needed you to know. And I’m happy the kids have you - you were always the better parent, the one best fit to take care of them. Maybe coming back to town was my way of checking on them, of making sure I made the right choice by leaving them with you."
I huff out a quiet breath, shaking my head. “The right choice,” I murmur. “You make it sound like you were being selfless.”
Her lips part, but she doesn’t argue. Instead, she stirs her coffee absentmindedly, gaze flicking toward the window. “Maybe I was. In my own way.”
I scoff.
She looks back at me then, something like regret flashing in her eyes. “I know I wouldn’t have been a good mother to them.” She gives me a small, sad smile. “I loved you, Blake. I really did. But I don’t think I ever loved you enough to be a mother.”
I stare at her. “That doesn’t make sense. You were the one who told me you were pregnant. You insisted on keeping the baby. You…”
“I know,” she cuts in, her voice quiet. She looks down at her coffee, tracing patterns on the side of the cup. “I did. Or at least, I thought I did. The truth is, I wanted to be with you, no matter what. When I found out you were with Whitney, I…!” She exhales, shaking her head. “I hated it. I hated knowing that you were happy with someone else.”
My chest tightens. “What are you saying?”
“I was jealous. Like why could she have you, when I couldn’t even though we were no longer together for about a year, I guess. But I just…, I just couldn’t stomach it. And no matter what I did to regain your attention, you never looked my way.”
