Page 132 of Second Chance with the Single Dad Goalie
I shrug, taking a bite. “Team effort. But I would have felt more incredible if my girlfriend was there to watch me.”
She nudges my arm playfully. “Oh, please. You did just fine without me.”
I shake my head. “It wasn’t the same.”
Her teasing expression softens, and she reaches over to squeeze my hand. “I’m really proud of you, Blake.”
I thread our fingers together, brushing my thumb over hers. “Thanks, baby.”
A beat passes before I exhale. “I talked to Keith tonight.”
Her brows lift slightly. “Yeah?”
I told her everything Keith and I talked about. “I think we’re okay.”
Her lips part slightly. Her expression softens, her fingers tightening around mine. “Blake…
I squeeze her hand. “I love you, shortcake. So, so very much.”
She smiles, leaning in. “I love you more.”
I smirk. “Impossible.”
She rolls her eyes playfully, then presses her lips to mine.
The kiss is soft and sweet, tasting like caramel and promises.
And at that moment, with the taste of ice cream on our tongues and the night stretching out before us, I know - this is everything. My heart is settling into the safest place it’s ever known.
Here.
With her.
Chapter twenty-seven
Whitney
Before we knew it, the reason I came back to Autumn Cove finally arrived. It’s Keith and Laura’s wedding day.
The church is breathtaking - tall stained-glass windows casting colorful patterns on the polished marble floors, golden chandeliers glowing softly, and rows of white roses and baby’s breath - Laura’s favorite - lining the aisle. Hushed excitement fills the air, the kind that makes your heartbeat a little faster.
I’m sitting with my family, well, except for Rosa who is one of Laura’s bridesmaids. All of us together in a neat row, for the first time since…, everything.
The tension is there, unspoken but present, like a crack in glass that hasn’t fully shattered yet. Since my outburst weeks ago, the first people who reached out to me were Janet, Rosa, and Dad. And let’s just say, those conversations left me in tears more than once. Dad, as always, had a way of making me feel like his little girl again, safe and understood. Edward had traveled the day after everything went down and only just got back yesterday, so we haven’t seen or had the chance to talk, that’s if we are going to.
As for Mom… Well, I’ve seen Mom, but we never talked about it. It was awkward like we both wanted to say something but didn’t know how. And Keith? I haven’t spoken to him or even seen him, really. Maybe it’s because I’ve been keeping myself busy. Or maybe he’s just been wrapped up in wedding preparations. Or maybe - just maybe - we’ve both been avoiding each other.
Either way, today isn’t about us. It’s about him and Laura, and I’m so, so happy for them.
I glance up toward the altar, and there he is. My man.
He is standing beside Keith, looking - holy hell - insanely handsome. He’s wearing a sharp black tux, tailored perfectly to his broad shoulders, the crisp white shirt underneath making his tan skin look even warmer. His dark hair is neatly styled, his sharp jawline even more pronounced under the soft glow of the church lights. He looks like he stepped right out of a dream.
My dream.
Keith, beside him, is a perfect blend of nerves and excitement. His tux is a deep navy, a subtle contrast to Blake’s black. His hair is brushed back, and though he’s standing tall, I can see the way he keeps adjusting his cufflinks, exhaling slowly.
Blake says something to him that makes him chuckle, easing his nervousness a little. After helping Keith adjust his collar, his blue eyes, always intense, sweep across the guests before landing on me. He smiles - slow, warm -then winks.
