Page 7 of Second Chance with the Single Dad Goalie (Second Chance Hockey Players #2)

Chapter five

Whitney

“ W hitney, take these out to the backyard, please.”

My mother’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts, and I glance up to see her balancing a tray of glasses while pointing toward the stack of plates on the counter.

“They’ll start arriving any moment,” she adds, already moving on to the next task, her energy as sharp as ever.

I grab the plates, pushing open the back door with my hip.

The late afternoon sun spills across the patio, warm and golden, a slight breeze rustling through the trees.

The long wooden table in the backyard - normally used for casual summer cookouts - now looks like something straight out of a wedding magazine.

A floral centerpiece stretches across the middle, and delicate fairy lights twinkle in the early evening light. My mom doesn’t do casual things.

I set the plates down and start arranging them, my fingers moving on autopilot when the sliding door behind me opens.

Aunt Lisa and Uncle Ray stroll in, their laughter ringing through the yard.

“Whitney, sweetheart!” Aunt Lisa swoops in for a hug, nearly knocking the breath out of me.

“Hi, Auntie.” I manage to smile as she releases me, “Look at you! You’re glowing.”

I laugh. “And so are you. How are you?”

“Oh, I’m doing good, sweetheart,” she says. Just as I was about to say something, Uncle Ray steps in with a playful clap on my shoulder, tipping his hat with a grin.

“Long time no see, kiddo.”

I smile, hugging him too. "Look at this place," Uncle Ray whistles, hands on his hips. "Your mum has really outdone herself."

"Does she ever not?" Aunt Lisa says, inspecting the setup like she’s the wedding planner herself.

"Need help, honey?"

"I got it," I assure her, but of course, she starts adjusting the place settings anyway.

The sound of car doors slamming out front snaps me back to reality.

Here we go.

More people trickle in - my cousins, the bride’s family, a few close family friends. The energy picks up, voices overlapping, drinks being poured. I barely have time to breathe before the sound of tiny, excited squeals pierces the air.

"Dadda!"

I turn just in time to see Ed’s two kids - Mason and Lily - barreling across the yard toward their father. He kneels, catching them effortlessly, a grin breaking across his face. "Hey, guys, I’ve missed you," he says, hugging them close.

His wife, Claire, steps up beside him, looking effortlessly put together despite wrangling two toddlers. “Why didn’t you call me when you landed? I would’ve picked you up," Ed tells her, pressing a quick kiss to her lips.

She waves him off with a smile. "It’s fine. You were needed here anyway."

Ed squeezes Claire’s waist before setting the kids down, letting them toddle off toward the small play area set up in the corner of the backyard. Laughter and conversation weave through the air as more people trickle in, exchanging greetings, hugs, and playful jabs.

Mom steps outside, scanning the growing crowd. "Oh, good, everyone’s almost here," she says, clapping her hands. Her eyes land on Claire. "Claire, sweetheart, you’re here. Can you help Rosa bring out the casserole?"

"Of course," Claire says before disappearing inside.

Mom’s gaze shifts to me. “Whitney, honey, you look beautiful, but please go run a comb through your hair.”

I resist the urge to groan. “Mom…”

“And…,” she continues, scanning the crowd, "…and—oh! Tell Rosa to please not wear that mismatched whatever she plans on wearing.” She sighs, clearly overwhelmed, eyes darting around like she’s searching for more things to micromanage. “And, and…"

I grab her hands before she can issue another command. “Mom, calm down. Breathe. Everything is fine. Stop worrying over nothing . This is a meet and discuss meeting, not the Met Gala. No need to get all worked up.”

She presses her lips together, but I can see the gears in her head still turning.

“I’ll brush my hair, and I’ll make sure Rosa doesn’t wear the mismatched outfit,” I assure her. But you?" I level her with a look. "Go take a breather before you start bossing around people who don’t even belong to this family, okay?"

Mom exhales, nodding. “Okay…, thanks, dear.” She pats my cheek before heading back inside.

I take a deep breath, about to head inside when someone ruffles my hair from behind.

"Hey - stop it!" I swat at the offender, already knowing who it is.

Keith smirks, arms crossed. “Look at you being the voice of reason. Who would’ve thought?”

I huff, trying to fix my hair. “Oh, shut up. I can be responsible.”

“Yeah, yeah.” He grins. “Just didn’t expect you to handle Mom so smoothly. I just expected more of a fight about the hair comment. Maturity looks good on you.”

“Glad someone appreciates it.” I flick a strand of hair at him, making him chuckle.

“No, it’s tragic.” He chuckles, leaning against the table beside me. "Nervous?"

"For what? A meeting?" I snort.

He gestures toward the growing crowd. "Come on. You know how our family is. This is going to turn into a full-on event. Someone’s gonna bring out a PowerPoint presentation, I feel it."

I roll my eyes and head inside. Just as I am about to go up the stairs, the doorbell rings. I double back, opening it to find Blake standing there, arm in a sling, looking…, well, unfairly good for someone injured.

“Sorry I’m late,” he says, stepping inside, ushering his kids ahead of him.

“No big deal.”

I glance at the little ones first, crouching slightly. “Hey, guys! How are you doing? Remember me?”

Nico shifts on his feet, his little hands gripping the hem of his sweater. "Yeah," he mumbles, peeking up at me before quickly looking away.

Mia stays glued to Blake’s leg, but after a second, she peeks out just enough to whisper, "Hi."

I grin. "Hi, princess."

Mia presses her face back into Blake’s side, but I don’t miss the tiny smile she tries to hide.

I straighten and glance at Blake. "How is the shoulder?" I ask, nodding toward the sling.

“Not bad. I should be able to take it off in a week.”

“Huh. And here I thought you were going to milk it for sympathy.”

His lips twitch. “Tempting. But no.”

I smirk. “Shame. Could’ve gotten you free desserts.”

A small chuckle escapes him. A beat of silence lingers before I clear my throat. “Everyone’s in the backyard.”

He nods, stepping past me, his kids trailing beside him. But just as he reaches the doorway, he pauses.

His eyes flick back to me, lingering for half a second longer than they should. “You look good, by the way.”

My breath catches. For half a second, I just blink at him, caught off guard.

My stomach flips. My brain scrambles for something to say - but nothing is coming out, mostly because my brain short-circuits, and by the time I process the words, he’s already stepping into the backyard, disappearing into the crowd.

I stand there for a second, blinking at the empty space he left behind.

What in the hell was that?

Shaking it off - —attempting to, at least - I head upstairs to my room, pressing a hand to my chest like that’ll somehow slow the sudden hammering of my heart.

I need to get a grip.

Making my way to my room, I pass by Rosa’s room to see her holding up a bright yellow scarf.

I sigh. “Mom says ‘no’ to mismatched outfits.”

Rosa groans. “She has no appreciation for my creative vision.”

I laugh. “Yeah, yeah. Just don’t give her an aneurysm. Seriously, you’re a fashionista, dress casually and fashionably.”

Finally, I make my way to the bathroom, run a brush through my hair, and go back to the backyard. Everyone is settling in, greeting one another, catching up like it hasn’t been months since the last family gathering.

Out of habit, I pull out my phone and start capturing little moments - the beautifully set table, the soft glow of the backyard lights, Uncle Ray balancing a plate and a glass of wine like some kind of circus act. Honestly, this whole wedding prep process could make for some great content.

Still, I should probably check with Laura first.

I spot her near the drink station, laughing at something Keith just said. Sliding up beside her, I nudge her lightly with my elbow.

"Hey, bride-to-be, would you be okay if I recorded some of this? Just little moments from the prep meetings? I could put it on my page for my followers, but also, you would have it as a keepsake.”

Laura’s eyes light up. “Oh! Are you sure you want to do that?"

“Uh, yeah,” I say with a laugh, “you do realize you’re asking a content creator if she wants to create content, right?”

She grins. “All right then. Go for it.”

“Awesome.” I say, giving her playful salute, already opening my camera app to capture the settings.

The meeting is in full swing now - suggestions flying, some practical, some completely ridiculous. Sometime during the meeting, Mom calls me aside, her expression is the kind that tells me I’m about to be recruited for something against my will.

“Whitney, sweetheart, can you watch the kids for a bit?”

I blink. “I’m sorry, what?”

She gestures toward the little ones playing near the patio. “Ed’s kids.”

I glance at them, then back at her, arms crossed. “And why am I suddenly the babysitter?”

“Because you’re the youngest,” she says, matter-of-factly. “And you’re great with kids.”

I narrow my eyes. “That sounds suspiciously like flattery to make me agree.”

She sighs, exasperated. “Whitney, just keep an eye on them. It’s only for a little while. Oh, you’re watching Blake’s kids too.”

"Wait, hold on - why do I have to watch his kids too?“

I groan, but she’s already walking away, leaving me standing there, newly crowned as the reluctant babysitter.

I make my way toward the kids, crouching slightly. “Alright, tiny humans, it looks like we’re hanging out.”

My niece and nephew immediately grin, but Blake’s kids stay close together, hesitant. Mia clutches Nico’s hand like a lifeline.

I lean in, lowering my voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “You know…, I have a superpower.”

Nico’s eyes widen. “Really??” His little jaw drops. “Daddy has superpowers too!”

I blink, then grin. “Oh yeah? What kind?”

He puffs up proudly. “He can make people appear.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Whoa! That’s a pretty cool power.”

Nico nods vigorously. “Uh-huh! One time, my grandma was lost at the airport, and Daddy said ‘poof’…,” he throws his hands up dramatically, “… and then she was there!”

I bite back a laugh. “Sounds like a very impressive trick. Did he say abracadabra ?”

“Huh uh and we helped with magic words too.”

I blink. “Whoa. Mia honey, did that happen?”

Mia thinks for a minute and nods. I press a hand to my heart. “Wow. That’s..., honestly amazing. He is like a superhero.”

Nico nods sagely. “Uh-huh.” He tugs on my sleeve. “What’s your power?”

I glance around, pretending to make sure no one is listening. “I can guess things.”

His eyes grow even bigger. “Like… guess what I’m thinking??”

“Exactly,” I say, tapping my temple. “I can tell what you’re thinking right now.”

He gasps, grabbing Mia’s shoulders. “She’s gonna read my brain!!”

I squint at him, putting on my best ‘mystical’ face. “Hmm… let me see… you’re thinking about…, two things… ,Nemo and that cake over there,” I say, pointing to the cake on the table in the corner.

His jaw drops. “HOW DID YOU KNOW??”

I wiggle my fingers. “Magic.”

Mia’s little mouth forms a perfect ‘O’.

Nico stares at me, then whirls around. “Daddy!! She knows things!”

Blake, who’s mid-conversation with someone, glances over with a small smirk. “Does she now?”

Nico nods furiously. “Yes!! She knew I was thinking about dinosaurs!”

Blake’s smirk deepens. “Well, that is impressive.”

Mia tugs my sleeve shyly. “Can you guess my thoughts too? My favorite color”

I grin. “Let’s see…, I know all girls love pink, but because you are a special girl, your favorite color is different. You love the color…, purple.”

She gasps, covering her mouth with both hands like I just unlocked the secrets of the universe. “Correct!”

Nico jumps up and down. “Do it again! Do it again!!”

I chuckle, tilting my head, thinking. “You know,” I say, lowering my voice conspiratorially, “I happen to be an expert at building secret forts.”

Mia lifts her head, and Nico’s brows furrow in curiosity.

I press on. “I bet if we hurry, we can build the best one before anyone notices.” I wiggle my fingers like I’m letting them in on a top-secret mission. “But I’ll need some brave assistants. Think you guys can handle it?”

“Yeah.”

I grin. “Alright, Mia, Nico, and Mason, we are a team. Lily is our cheerleader. So, let’s go.”

Within minutes, I’ve got them setting up under a big tree with some extra chairs and tablecloths from the house.

My niece and nephew are fully on board, while Nico and Mia slowly start to loosen up.

By the time I drape the final piece over the "fort," Mia is giggling softly, and Nico is explaining, very seriously, how forts need escape routes.

I pretend to take notes. “That’s genius. I’ll have to remember that for our next build.”

We spend the next hour playing every game under the sun - Duck, Duck, Goose, Simon Says, even an intense round of Freeze Dance.

At some point, Nico, and Mason, launch into a detailed discussion about their schools, telling me about their teachers, a mysterious kid named Leo who apparently never follows the rules, and how Mason once won a race by “running super-fast like a cheetah.”

By the time the meeting ends, I’m exhausted in the best way. The kids take off towards their parents, and I watch as Blake crouches to meet his two at eye level.

Mia launches herself into his good arm, her tiny fingers fisting his shirt, while Nico chatters away, eyes shining.

Blake listens intently, nodding along, ruffling Nico’s hair in that effortless, affectionate way, and he says something to Mia.

He smiles at them - it’s one of those smiles that bring back memories and make something tighten in my chest.

It’s…, nice. And it’s annoying that I think so. At this moment, I cannot even hate him properly. I shake my head, pushing the thought away. No need to go down that road. Not today.

Mia nods, wrapping her arms around his neck. “I like Whitney,” I hear her say.

Blake glances at me over Mia’s shoulder, a small, knowing smile tugging at his lips. “Yeah,” he says, “she’s pretty great.”

I blink, momentarily caught off guard, but before I can react, he’s standing, ushering the kids toward the door.

One by one, everyone starts heading out, the backyard emptying as the night settles in.

I exhale, finally alone, stretching out my stiff limbs.

What a day.