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“Don’t hurt me again,” she murmured, her voice tight with emotion. “Please.”
Blake’s expression softened, and he reached out to take her hand, his movement hidden by the boards. “I will try my absolute best to never hurt you like I did before. I know we might have moments when we hurt each other, but I’m not going to walk away again. Never.”
Could she trust him? Gripping his hand tightly, she searched his face for the assurance she needed. But even though she could see the determination in his eyes, she knew that life could deal them some blows.
Especially since there was still a secret between them.
Would they be able to weather those storms?
“Daddy! I didn’t fall again.”
Blake gave Charli a quick wink before turning his attention to Amelia and Layla. He kept hold of her hand with his since the boards blocked the girls’ view of their hands.
“You’re doing so good, Berry,” Blake told her. “Are you getting tired?”
“Nope!”
Blake chuckled as Amelia pulled Layla along. “I must admit, I’m so glad the girls get along well. It makes things between us easier.”
That was something Charli had thought as well. She just wanted to make sure that the girls didn’t get hurt in all of this, too. Blake wasn’t the only person she was keeping the truth from.
Charli moved a step closer to Blake, so they could continue to hold hands as they faced the ice. Blake laced their fingers together, rubbing his thumb against hers. It was something he’d done when they’d held hands before, and the emotion already simmering beneath the surface threatened to overflow.
They continued to stand there for the remainder of the time the girls spent on the ice. Their conversation didn’t return to their relationship, but Charli had a feeling that they’d be discussing it again later. And she would be happy to do that.
Once the girls had had their fill of skating, they changed out of their skates, then, after returning the skating trainer, they left the building. Since they’d already decided that they’d go out for dinner, they climbed into their vehicles and made their way to Serenity’s one family diner.
It wasn’t super busy, and they were quickly shown to a booth. The girls each scooted into the booth, taking up seats opposite each other against the window. After Blake and Charli had joined them, the waitress approached the table.
“How’re you doing, Charli?” the middle-aged woman asked with a warm smile.
“I’m good, Lynne. How are you?”
“Doing just fine.” Her gaze traveled to the others at the table, greeting each of them. “So, what can I get you to drink?”
Over the next several minutes, they looked over the menus. They’d been to the diner often enough that Layla and Charli had no problem deciding what they wanted, but it took Blake and Amelia a few more minutes.
“I’d like pancakes with blueberries, please,” Amelia told Lynne when it was her turn to order.
“Do you want whipped cream on them?”
Amelia glanced at Blake, who nodded, then she smiled at Lynne. “Yes, please.”
Layla also ordered pancakes with whipped cream, but she got chocolate chip ones. Both girls ordered chocolate milk. Blake asked for a double bacon cheeseburger and fries, while Charli opted for lasagna and garlic bread.
Charli knew they were taking a chance going out for dinner all together. Especially to someplace like the diner, where there were people who knew her and would happily share that news with their friends.
But maybe it was time to finally take their relationship out of the shadows. It had been hidden so much, both then and in the past, and Charli knew it wouldn’t flourish if it stayed a secret.
“Is this a special occasion?” Lynne asked when she returned with their food, clearly fishing for more information.
“We went ice skating,” Layla said. “Amelia and I have been taking lessons, and we wanted to go skating together.”
“Oh, that’s fun,” Lynne said, and Charli was glad that Layla had volunteered the information.
“We had a lot of fun,” Amelia said. “But Daddy and Miss H didn’t skate with us. Daddy doesn’t know how.”
“And my mom doesn’t like to go skating very much.”
