Page 123 of Second Chance with the Single Dad Goalie

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I open my mouth again and it’s like my words are stuck in my throat.

"We know him, Whitney," my mother says, her voice low, clipped. "For goodness sakes, he’s Keith’s best friend. He’s practically lived in this house. Of all people -him? Why? And you kept this a secret? Why?"

"When were you planning on telling us?" My father presses.

I swallow hard.

“Answer me.” His voice is still quiet, but there’s no mistaking the sharp edge beneath it.

I immediately nod.

Dad shakes his head. I grip my dress tighter. My stomach clenches.

I was going to tell them. But looking at them now, at the sheer disbelief, the frustration, the unspoken anger hanging heavy in the air, I wonder if it would’ve ever made a difference then or now.

“I didn’t mean to hide it…” My voice is barely a whisper, weak even to my own ears.

A scoff breaks the silence. Janet.

“So, this is why you’ve been acting weird,” she mutters. “I should’ve known. Keith says this is the second ‘secret relationship’ between you and Blake. Wow, just wonderful.”

Edward shakes his head, his glare searing into me. “I don’t get it. What were you thinking?”

The words come at me from every direction, layering over each other - frustration, disappointment, disbelief.

“You should have told us.”

“You had every chance.”

“This is beyond reckless, Whitney.”

And then…

“End it”

My dad’s voice cuts through the noise. It’s not a suggestion. It’s an order.

I blink. “What?”

“This…, mistake…!”

“It’s not a mistake.” My voice finally breaks free, hoarse but firm.

Silence.

For a second, no one speaks.

Then, Edward lets out a bitter laugh. “You can’t be serious.”

“I am.” My hands ball into fists and lift my chin. “I’m not ending anything.”

The air shifts, crackling with disbelief.

“Whitney,” my father says, his voice heavy, “you have to break this off.”

“No.”

"Whitney," my mother exhales, exasperated, "this relationship is built on lies."

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