Page 48 of Second Chance with the Single Dad Goalie
"Hello?" His voice is low, familiar, and annoyingly warm.
"Hi," I say, clearing my throat. "It’s me. Whitney."
"Yeah, I know." I can hear the smile in his voice, followed by a soft chuckle. "You have one of the sweetest voices."
My cheeks heat instantly, and I roll my eyes at myself. Get a grip. I shake my head and clear my throat again, this time with more purpose. "Are you free at four? If yes, then let’s meet at the Sweet Bean Café."
“All right,” there’s a pause. "Is everything okay?"
I smirk, leaning back against my pillows. "Oh, you’ll definitely find out when you get there."
And with that, I hang up.
****
At exactly four, Blake walks into the café, the twins, Mia, and Nico, holding his hands, looking ridiculously adorable.
Mia is dressed in a soft pink sweater tucked into a denim skirt, paired with white tights and tiny ankle boots. Sitting perfectly atop her dark curls is the real star of her outfit – a baby-pink beret.
Nico, on the other hand, is a mini-back-in-the-day-Blake on a very casual day in black jogger pants, a matching hoodie, and crisp white sneakers.
I wave them over, and I swear, their eyes light up at the same time, in the same way. My heart does this weird little flip, and before I know it, I’m fighting not to grin like an idiot.
Then my gaze shifts to Blake.
And…, wow!
Fitted black turtleneck. Sleek leather jacket. Dark pants that fit way too well. His effortless confidence only makes the look more striking.
I take a slow sip of my drink to keep my face neutral.
As soon as they reach my table, I break into a smile, looking at the kids. "Oh, my goodness, you two are just…, so beautiful and handsome! Honestly, I’ve missed you guys."
Mia grins. "I missed you too! And I think Nico missed you more because he kept asking Dadda about you."
Nico glares at his sister, looking shy. “Mia!”
I chuckle. "Well, thanks for missing me."
After chatting with the kids a bit more, I finally look at Blake.
"Hi."
"Hey," he says, his voice low and warm, "I had to get these two ready. Did you wait long?"
I shake my head. "Not at all. You got here on time."
We order hot chocolates and cookies for the kids, making sure they’re settled before turning our attention to each other.
"All right," I say, leaning in slightly. "I’m gonna cut straight to the chase."
Blake nods. "Okay."
I look at Mia and Nico, a soft smile tugging at my lips. Mia’s talking a mile a minute, her hands waving animatedly, while Nico sits quietly beside her, nodding along like her biggest fan. Then, without a word, he reaches over and gently wipes a smear of cocoa from her mouth.
My heart tugs at the simple, unspoken care between them. Sweet and so…, irresistible.
And before I know it, I sigh. “Fine.”
