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MAX

We land in Hawaii a few days before Caroline’s first birthday.

It’s warm, and the ocean breeze feels so refreshing. I have my daughter strapped to my chest in the baby carrier. Caroline kicks her little legs, waving to everyone we pass like the world is her personal fan club.

Laney adjusts her sunglasses, looking over the rims as she eyes me.

“What?” The corner of my mouth turns up.

“Just admiring the view. Gorgeous, barefoot, already tan… and looking so good holding our girl.”

I chuckle. “You might get a little tan too if you didn’t lather five pounds of sunscreen on every inch of your body.”

She shakes her head. “No, what I would get is red. I don’t want to spend our vacation in pain and looking like a tomato, thank you very much. You’re just lucky you have the type of skin that tans.”

“This was a good idea,” I say. “I really do love it here.”

Hawaii has a special place in our hearts after bye week.

It was the first time Delaney, Caroline, and I spent time in front of the team as a family unit—not just as me, my kid, and my nanny.

The weather is beyond gorgeous. Plus, Caroline was so good on the plane the first time around that we figured we’d come back and celebrate her first birthday in style.

Delaney grins. “Only the best for our girl.”

We’re here for a week—just the three of us—our first true family vacation.

No hockey. No timelines. Just quiet mornings and lazy beach days, building sandcastles and chasing waves, eating too much fresh pineapple and letting time slow down.

Each night we walk the beach with Caroline perched on my shoulders, her tiny hands tangled in my hair, giggling like she’s never been happier.

And honestly? Same. Most summers, I miss playing, but I’m really enjoying the downtime.

After walking the beach for a while, we end up near this little seaside restaurant with whitewashed walls, a tin roof, and strings of twinkle lights crisscrossing the patio.

It smells like grilled fish and fresh bread, and there’s a breeze coming off the water that makes everything feel a little dreamlike.

Delaney points at the handwritten chalkboard menu posted near the entrance. “They have grilled mahi-mahi and coconut shrimp. That sounds so good.”

“Sold,” I say, bending down to brush the sand off my feet. I grab my flip-flops from the mesh bag hanging on the stroller and slide them on with a small groan. “Ugh, I forgot how weird it feels putting shoes back on after being barefoot all day. I already miss the sand between my toes.”

“Tragic,” Delaney teases, her voice warm.

Caroline babbles from the carrier. She reaches out and grabs Delaney’s fingers.

We snag a table on the patio under a big yellow umbrella, the ocean just across the road, waves glittering under the late afternoon sun. Caroline sits in a high chair between us, kicking her legs against the wooden bar.

“Did you see the look she gave the server?” Delaney whispers behind her menu. “She’s already learning how to flirt.”

“She gets it from you.” I grin.

Delaney raises a brow. “Excuse me? I am subtle.”

I give her a look. “You winked at me before you even knew my name.”

“I did not!”

“You did. In the parking lot, when you tried to carjack me.”

“That was not a wink. That was a blink of panic. I was going toe-to-toe with two huge dudes I thought were stealing my car.”

“So that’s your story?” I raise a brow.

“That’s the truth,” Laney scoffs.

We’re both laughing when the food comes out—steaming plates of buttery fish, crispy shrimp, rice, and grilled veggies.

Delaney cuts up pieces of fish, steamed vegetables, and a pile of rice for Caroline and sets it in front of her.

She immediately digs in, squishing the food in her hands before shoving it into her mouth with glee.

“This is the best meal I’ve had in months,” Delaney says around a bite of shrimp, eyes half closed in happiness.

“I’m pretty sure you said that last week about tacos.”

“Well, I stand by both statements.”

We eat slowly, talking and feeding bits of fish to Caroline, who smacks her lips dramatically after every bite. Delaney pulls out her phone to snap a picture of Caroline with rice stuck to her cheeks.

“This is going to be one of my favorite memories,” she says softly, eyes locked on our daughter. “We should make it an annual trip. I love it here.”

“Agreed,” I say, reaching across the table to squeeze her hand. “I love it here too. Plus, these coconut shrimp.” I hold up a crunchy shrimp. “Fucking heaven.”

I come out of the bedroom where Caroline is sleeping, having just put her down for the night. Laney is sitting out on the lanai of the rental house with her laptop open. She taps her lips, eyes squinting as she takes in the information on the screen.

My heart swells at the sight of her. She’s so beautiful.

Sliding open the door to the outdoor seating area, I ask, “What are you concentrating so hard on out here?”

She looks up from the screen and scrunches her nose. “Wedding stuff.”

“Uh-oh. It’s not going well?”

Laney and I have decided we want to get married this year.

I mean, we feel like we’re already married.

We’re living together, raising a kid together…

why wait to make it official? Unfortunately, once the season starts in October, the team’s schedule gets crazy, leaving very few dates for weddings.

That leaves us with now until September.

“It’s just… September’s schedule is already so full.

You have a couple of preseason games plus a charity event, and the only open weekend is already booked with Jaden and Anna’s wedding.

So I was looking into August, but seeing as that’s right around the corner, all the venues, photographers, and caterers are booked.

It’s like a giant puzzle. I’ll find a venue that’s available but not a caterer, or vice versa. It’s just frustrating.”

I nod. “Yeah, I can see that. It’s not much time to plan a wedding.”

“No, it’s not,” she sighs.

“Okay, so… I have an idea.”

She closes the laptop and looks at me. “I’m all ears.”

I pause for dramatic effect. “Let’s get married here. This week.”

“What?” She stands. “We can’t do that.”

“Why not?” I shrug. “It’s one of the most beautiful places on earth. We can have a cozy little beach wedding.”

“But we need to plan these things. And invite people. And I don’t know…” She paces the room.

“No, I think it’s perfect. We can go shopping for something to wear, book someone to marry us, and pick a beautiful spot on the beach.

It’ll be special—just our family. Not only a marriage between the two of us, but a promise to Caroline, too.

You know? If you really want a party, we can throw a reception when we get home.

But I just want to marry you. The details don’t matter. I just want you to be my wife.”

She’s no longer pacing, just looking at me with a thoughtful expression. “You’re totally right. It would be perfect. You, me, and our girl. That’s all we need.”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

She smiles wide. “Okay, let’s do it.”

Two days later, we stand on the beach barefoot, sun kissing our skin, the sound of the ocean our only soundtrack.

Caroline wears a flowy little Hawaiian dress—pink with white hibiscus flowers—and a matching flower crown that keeps slipping to the side.

Laney has on a simple white sundress that she picked up at a shop down the road from our rental.

Her strawberry-blond hair cascades down her back in loose waves.

She has a hibiscus tucked behind one ear, making her look like a goddess.

Her look is simple but absolutely stunning.

I don’t think she’s ever been more beautiful.

I’m wearing khaki pants and a white linen shirt.

A local officiant named Kapono meets us by the rocks, his presence warm and kind. We didn’t need anything formal—just someone to help us mark the moment, to make it real. Kapono recommended a photographer friend of his to capture it, which we gladly took him up on.

I’m not sure what I thought I’d feel when I got married, but I suppose my younger self thought I’d be nervous. Yet I don’t have a single nerve in me. Just happiness and gratitude. There is nothing I want more than to marry the woman standing in front of me.

Caroline sits in the sand between us, playing with a seashell while I face Laney, holding her hands in mine.

I’m so ready.

Kapono speaks softly, letting the rhythm of the waves fill the spaces between his words. When it’s our turn, I don’t even glance at the paper in my pocket. I look at Delaney, and she’s all I see as the words flow.

“Growing up there were so many things I thought I needed to be happy. But none of it was true. All I needed was you. You’re everything to me.

You came into my life when I was at my lowest and built a beautiful life for us, making me the happiest man in the world.

You turned my house into a home. You taught me how to be a father.

You showed me what real love is. You loved me and Caroline so completely.

I cherish you and love everything about you.

I swear to spend the rest of my life loving you with everything I have. ”

Delaney is crying but manages a smile. “Max, I spent years thinking I wasn’t meant for this.

For love. For family. But then you happened.

You and your baby girl—you showed me what it means to belong.

What it means to be truly loved. You are my safe place.

My favorite adventure. My everything. I love you more than I ever thought possible, and I will love you for the rest of my life. ”

We slide rings onto each other’s fingers—simple gold bands we found at a beachside market that morning. They’re nothing fancy, and we could always upgrade later, but I don’t see that happening. These rings feel perfect, and Laney’s looks great with her diamond engagement ring.

Kapono pronounces us husband and wife, and I kiss Delaney with everything I have.

When we break away, I lift our daughter from the sand and we hold her between us, hugging each other with pure joy.

I take a step back and spin Caroline in a slow circle, making her giggle, before embracing Laney in another family hug. And just like that, we’re married.

Later, we watch the sunset from the shoreline. Caroline’s asleep on a blanket beside us, the colors of the sky reflected in the tiny ripples of the ocean.

I brush my fingers over Laney’s hands, our rings catching the last of the light.

“I can’t believe we’re married,” I whisper.

She leans in and kisses my cheek. “Best decision I ever made.”

I smile, squeezing her hand. “Me too.”

I can’t stop thinking about our wedding and how perfect it was. I’m so happy we did it here without the stress of a big production. Just us. Only love. Pure perfection. I’m so excited to see what the future brings for this family of mine. Whatever it is, I know it’ll be incredible.

This life we’ve built—is everything I could ever want. And if we only get one life… I’m so glad it’s this one.