Page 121 of Second Chance with the Single Dad Goalie
His nostrils flare, his fingers tightening around his fork. Then, after a moment, he exhales through his nose and scoffs. “What about Olivia?”
I frown. “What about her?”
“You were with her. She was pregnant with your kids. Did you…,” his voice turns deadly low…,“cheat on my sister?”
“No,” I say immediately, shaking my head. “Never.”
Keith doesn’t look convinced. “Then explain.”
I drag a hand down my face before meeting his gaze and explaining everything to him.
Keith lets out a long breath, rubbing his temple. “Wow. She was always nuts. Told you to stay away from her, didn’t I? Seriously dude, you always ended up with the wrong girls. Annoying, clingy, oh, did I mention annoying?”
“You are one to talk. As if Jane wasn’t all three combined,” I retort.
“At least, that’s one out of the lot,” he scoffs. “You can’t use one bad apple to condemn the rest in the basket. So, I am better than you with the amount of good and bad apples I had in my basket.”
“How proud I am of you,” I mutter. Then I can’t help but add, “Well, I did get the best one.”
His glare could burn a hole through me.
Oops.
“Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”
The silence stretches between us.
Then I clear my throat. “I want to be with Whitney. Really be with her. No hiding, no secrets. I love her, man. I don’t want to let her go again.” I meet his gaze. “And I know I messed up. I know I should’ve told you. I should’ve handled things better. And I’m sorry, Keith.” My voice is steady, even as my chest tightens. “But I love your sister. I’ve always loved her, and I always will. And I need you to know that.”
His fingers drum against the table, his gaze flicking between me and his half-empty plate. “So, what now? What do you want from me?”
I take a deep breath. “I want your blessing.”
Keith lets out a bitter chuckle. “Now? After all these years?” His voice is quiet. “What blessing are you asking for again when you guys are already knee-deep in a relationship with lots of history?” He exhales, looking down at the table. “You hid this from me for years, Blake. You and Whitney - the two people I trusted the most. I share virtually everything with you guys.”
“We were going to,” I say, rubbing the back of my neck. “We just…, weren’t mentally ready.” I sigh. “I won’t make excuses. We should have told you. I know that.”
Keith exhales sharply, looking away. His hand tightens around his glass before he sets it down a little too hard.
“There are a lot of things I can’t forgive you for,” he finally says, his voice quieter now, more raw. “I can’t forgive you for hurting her back then.” He swallows. “And I definitely can’t forgive the fact that you both hid it from me. For years. Do you even know how messed up that is? Do you even understand how much that…”
He stops himself, jaw clenching as if forcing the words back down.
I do.
“I’m…, we are sorry, man. Truly sorry.”
Keith doesn’t respond. He just stares at the table, shoulders rising and falling with steady, measured breaths. Then, after what feels like an eternity, he waves to the waiter.
“Get my dessert to go.” His voice is flat, unreadable.
A few minutes later, the waiter returns with a large box. Keith pushes his chair back and stands, tossing his napkin onto the table.
“Put it on his tab.”
I open my mouth, but Keith just shakes his head, his fingers gripping the takeout bag like it’s the only thing keeping him grounded.
"Keith…"
