Page 40 of Second Chance with the Single Dad Goalie (Second Chance Hockey Players #2)

Chapter twenty-eight

Blake

I never knew or thought it was possible to love someone this much, with each passing day.

I’ve loved before. Or at least, I thought I had. But nothing has ever come close to what I feel for Whitney. It’s different. It’s deeper. It’s everything.

The way she laughs, like she’s holding nothing back. The way she looks at me - like I’m not just some guy, but her guy. The way she’s become the heartbeat of my life, slipping so effortlessly into every part of it, like she was always meant to be here.

And the twins? God, they adore her. I don’t think they even remember a time without her. She loves them like they’re her own, and in every way that matters, they are.

I glance at Whitney now, standing a few feet away from me, her arms wrapped around her as the wind ripples through her dark hair. God, she’s beautiful. Always has been. The lakeside stretches wide before us, the water reflecting the deep oranges and pinks of the setting sun.

“This place,” I say, stepping closer, “will always be one of my favorite places in the world.”

She turns to me, smiling. “Yeah? Not the hockey rink? Why? Because of all the dumb things we did here as teenagers?”

I chuckle. “Okay, that’s one of my favorites. But this? This is where it all started.” I glance around, taking in the stillness of the lake. “This is where I first realized I was in love with you.”

Her smile falters, just slightly, and I see the way her throat bobs as she swallows.

I nod, letting my gaze drift over the familiar landscape. “We spent so much time here. Skipping rocks. Talking about our futures. You used to swear you’d move to Paris and never look back.”

She laughs. “I did, didn’t I?”

“Yeah.” I grin. “And I swore I’d be the next great hockey legend.”

“Well,” she nudges me playfully, “one of us kept their word.”

I chuckle, shaking my head. “I think, deep down, I always knew I wouldn’t leave this place forever. No matter where I went, no matter what I did…, a part of me always belonged here.”

Her expression softens, her brown eyes searching mine. “Blake…”

I reach for her hands, threading my fingers through hers. “And you, Whit. You were always here, too. Even when we weren’t together, even when we weren’t talking. You were still here. In every memory, every dream, every part of me.”

She blinks up at me, her breath catching slightly.

“I still can’t believe how much has changed,” she murmurs. “How much we’ve changed.”

I step behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist and pulling her back against my chest. “Not everything’s changed,” I whisper, pressing a kiss to the side of her head. “I still love you. Probably even more.”

I turn her around, brushing a strand of hair away from her face.

“Whitney, I never thought I’d get a second chance with you. Never thought I deserved one. But here we are, and I can’t imagine my life without you in it. If I could go back and tell that cocky seventeen-year-old anything, I’d tell him to hold on to you with everything he had. To never let go.”

Whitney tilts her head, studying me. “But then we wouldn’t be here. Like this.”

“Yeah, we wouldn’t. We would have had a different story. Maybe an easier one. But, Whit, I don’t regret a single second that led us here.”

I squeeze her hand, letting every bit of love I feel for her show. "Every wrong turn, every mistake - it all led me to this moment. And I wouldn’t trade this for anything."

She bites her lip, her gaze locked onto mine. "Blake..."

I don’t let her finish. Instead, I reach into my pocket and pull out the small velvet box I’ve been carrying for weeks.

Her breath catches.

I drop to one knee, my heart hammering.

"I want forever with you," I say, voice rough with emotion.

"I want every morning, every night, every messy, beautiful, ordinary day with you.

I want to love you in all the ways you deserve.

I want to raise our kids together, grow old together - spend the rest of my life making sure you never have to question how much I love you. "

Tears spill down her cheeks, and she lets out a shaky laugh. "You’re really doing this."

"Darn right, I am." I flip the box open, revealing the ring I spent months picking out, wanting it to be perfect. "So, what do you say, Whit? Will you marry me?"

For a heartbeat, time stands still.

Then she nods. "Yes." Her voice is barely above a whisper before it strengthens. "Yes, Blake. A million times, yes."

I don’t even get the chance to slip the ring on her finger before she’s throwing herself into my arms, kissing me like her life depends on it.

The world fades - the lake, the trees, everything except her.

And as the sun sets behind us, casting a golden glow over the water, I know with absolute certainty: This is it. She’s it.

This is the beginning of forever .

*** One Year and Five Months Later

The sound of skates slicing across the ice fills the crisp winter air, followed by the laughter of two very excited five-year-olds.

“Good job, buddy!” I call out as my son wobbles slightly but manages to stay upright. “Keep your knees bent, just like that!”

“Stop looking at your feet, Mia.”

Mia puffs out her cheeks. “But my feet are moving funny.”

I smirk. “That is because you’re thinking too hard. Just feel it.”

She frowns like that’s the most ridiculous thing she’s ever heard but tries anyway.

“Like this?” She shouts, wobbling slightly before regaining her balance.

“Exactly like that,” I say, grinning. “Nice job, princess.”

Nico skates past her, flashing a competitive smirk. “Slowpoke.”

“Nico!” Mia huffs, chasing after him.

Beside me, Whitney laughs. “You realize you’ve created little monsters, right?”

I turn, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. She leans into me easily, her body warm against mine despite the cold.

I grin, pressing a kiss to her temple. “Impossible.”

She rolls her eyes, but the happiness in them is undeniable.

A year ago, I didn’t think life could get any better than having her say yes. But now, standing here, watching our kids, watching our life unfold in ways I never could have imagined - I know better.

This? This is everything.

I tighten my grip on Whitney’s hand, letting my wedding band catch the sunlight.

“What?”

I shrug. “Just thinking about how lucky I am.”

She snorts. “I did marry you, so yeah, I’d say you are.”

Laughing, I pull her closer. “Hey, Mrs. Carter?”

She looks up at me, smiling. “Yeah?”

I kiss her, slow and deep, right there in the middle of the ice.

“I love you.”

She laughs against my lips. “I love you too.”

And as our kids skate around us, as the world fades into a blur of laughter and winter light, I know one thing for sure…

We got our second chance.

And I’m never letting it go.