Page 57 of Second Chance with the Single Dad Goalie
Taking care of them is easier than I thought it would be - exhausting, yes, but surprisingly fun.
And just like that, one day turns into two. Then three. Then four.
I find a rhythm with them faster than I expected. They are mischievous but sweet, constantly testing my patience yet making me laugh in the next breath. Nico likes to act serious but is secretly the biggest cuddler. Mia, on the other hand, is a whirlwind of excitement, always ready with a wild idea.
They have completely grown on me.
I don’t even fight it anymore.
But what I do fight - desperately - is the attraction I feel toward Blake.
Despite my best efforts to keep things platonic, there’s an undeniable shift between Blake and me. It’s subtle at first, and easy to ignore. A lingering glance here, a casual brush of his hand, the way his voice deepens when he calls my name, or how my pulse picks up when he’s near. As the days pass, it becomes impossible to push aside.
Because memories creep in.
The way he used to look at me. The way he used to kiss me. The way I used to love him.
I tell myself it’s nothing, just nostalgia.
I keep reminding myself that things are different now. That we’re different. But are we?
Because every time our eyes meet for a second too long or he smirks at something I say, leaving me to wonder…
Am I really over him?
Or am I just fooling myself?
I don’t have the answers. But one thing is clear - ignoring it is getting harder by the day, and I fear I just might break and give in to him, again - if it comes to it.
Chapter twelve
Blake
Having Whitney around as the kids’ nanny has been amazing. I’m left surprised every day. I’ve never seen my kids so free, so instantly accepting of someone who isn’t me or my mom. It took them months to warm up to some of my closest friends, yet with Whitney, it was like they’d known her forever.
Five days. That’s all it’s been. And already, they adore her.
I see it in the way they light up around her, how they hang on to every word she says, how they run to her first when something exciting happens.
And she adores them too.
She takes them along when she goes out for her videos, and every time they come back, they’re practically wide-eyed and vibrating with excitement. They can’t wait to tell me everything - who they met, talked to, what they saw, what they did, and the entire funny thing Whitney did. Somehow - somehow - she’s managed to slightly pull them out of their social shells. Mia especially can’t stop talking about howcoolWhitney is.
I’ve never seen them this free and happy.
And I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make something in my chest tighten each time. I lean back against the couch, rubbing a hand over my face, letting out a long sigh. Tomorrow, we leave for Ohio to play against the Columbus Steelhawks.
Another away game. Another few days without the kids.
Honestly, I hate being away from them. Always have, ever since I became a father. But it’s part of the job. Part of being a pro athlete. It’s the sacrifice that comes with chasing something bigger. And for the most part, I’ve made my peace with it.
Except this time, it’s different. Because for the first time, since they were born, I don’t feel guilty or sad about leaving them behind.
They have her looking after them.
I glance at the clock on the wall. 8:35 pm. A soft sound pulls me from my thoughts. I glance up as Whitney walks in, heading straight for the kitchen. Her hair is in a messy bun, her oversized hoodie swallows her frame, and she looks - tired.
She grabs a glass from the cabinet, fills it with water, and takes a sip before finally looking my way.
