Page 103 of Second Chance with the Single Dad Goalie
The words hit like a slow, sinking weight in my stomach.
Pregnant.
I grip my arms tightly over my chest, holding myself together as his words settle like stones in my stomach.
“She said I’m the father.”
A dull ringing starts in my ears.
“I mean, there was no way that was possible,” he continues. “I haven’t been in contact with her ever since we broke up. Told her she had to be lying, or mistaken, or - I don’t know, trying to trap me into something. But she just said we were intimate, I just don’t remember.”
“I laughed.Laughed,Whit. Because it was ridiculous. IknewI hadn’t touched her. I would’verememberedsomething like that.” He exhales, running a hand down his face. “But then, she said it happened the night of James’ party. That I was too drunk to know what was going on. I told her she was insane. I remember that night - or at least, I thought I did. I remembergetting wasted, sure, but I also remember waking up alone in one of the guest rooms. I figured I just crashed there.”
A hollow laugh escapes him. “Guess I was wrong. Because she had a video. It wasn’t long. Just a few seconds. Enough to show that I was in that room. With her. And that I wasn’t exactlypushingher away. Anyway, to confirm better, we went to the hospital and the doctor said the conception lined up with that night.”
"She told me she wasn’t getting rid of the baby. And that she wouldn’t go through the pregnancy alone." He looks at me again, his expression wrecked. "She said since I was single, introducing her as my girlfriend just made sense."
A lump forms in my throat. "And you just…, went along with it?"
He sighs, rubbing his face. "I wanted to refuse, believe me, I did, -but then I thought about the kid." His voice cracks slightly. "Would they grow up knowing their father was there for them? Would they feel abandoned?"
I stare at him, my mind spinning.
"What if the kid isn’t yours?" My voice is barely above a whisper. "What would you have done then?"
Blake exhales shakily. "I considered that. I really did. I thought about waiting until the baby was born to confirm. But…?" He trails off, shaking his head. "I wanted to believe the kid was mine. Something told me it was mine."
Silence.
"And Olivia….," he continues, voice rough, "That day you saw us arguing? She told me if I didn’t claim her that night, she’d announce the pregnancy herself. In front of everyone. So, there. That’s why I did it."
But all I can think is ….
What about me?
*** (Present) ***
By the time I open my eyes, the sky outside my window is dark. I blink at the red numbers on my bedside clock. 7:44 PM.
I’ve been in my room for almost three hours.
I exhale deeply, pressing my fingers to my temples. My thoughts have been on an endless loop - replaying every word, every moment, every feeling. What I know, what I feel, what IwishI didn’t feel. The anger, the hurt, the confusion. But also, the part of me that still aches for him, that still wants to believe in us.
Sighing, I get up and head into the bathroom, letting the hot water wash away some of the tension clinging to my skin.
I feel a whole lot better and I know what to do. And it has to be done tonight.
By the time I’m dressed and making my way downstairs, I hear the sound of excited voices from the living room.
Then…
“Daddy!”
“Daddy’s back!”
“Blake!”
I stop at the bottom of the stairs, watching as he scoops them both up in his arms, laughing as they cling to him. Around them, voices overlap - congratulations, cheers, pats on the back. The Avalanche team has secured their third win.
