Page 101 of The Hockey Contract

"The paperwork might be the same, but everything else has changed."

Chapter 37: Jax

On the morning of our vow renewal, I woke unusually early, a strange case of nerves fluttering in my stomach despite the illogical nature of the anxiety. We were already legally married; this ceremony was simply a public declaration of private truth. Yet the significance felt greater than our original wedding, precisely because the emotions behind it were genuine rather than manufactured.

Sienna still slept peacefully beside me, her hair spread across the pillow, features softened in repose. I allowed myself a moment to simply watch her, marveling at how completely this woman had transformed my life in just a few months.

Before leaving the bed, I pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, careful not to wake her. She deserved rest after the emotional whirlwind of the championship and her parents' impending arrival.

Downstairs, I prepared breakfast – nothing elaborate, just coffee and toast, but made with attention to her preferences: cream and two sugars, bread sliced thicker than standard. Small details I'd learned during our time together.

When she entered the kitchen, sleep-rumpled and yawning, her smile at seeing breakfast waiting created a warmth in my chest no championship victory could match.

"Morning, champion," she said, accepting the coffee gratefully. "Sleep well?"

"Surprisingly, no." I settled across from her at the breakfast bar. "Nervous about today."

Her eyebrows rose in surprise. "You? Nervous? The man who scored the championship-winning goal in Game 7?"

"That was just hockey," I replied with a shrug that made her laugh.

"Just hockey, he says. After dedicating his entire life to the sport."

"Priorities change." I reached for her hand across the table. "Speaking of which, I have something for you."

From beneath the counter, I retrieved a small box I'd been saving for the right moment. Inside rested my championship ring – a massive, jewel-encrusted symbol of hockey's ultimate achievement.

"Jax, I can't take your ring," she protested immediately. "That's... that's your accomplishment."

"It's ours," I insisted, placing it gently in her palm. "I wouldn't have gotten here without you, Sienna. The person I was before we met wasn't capable of the leadership this team needed. You changed that. Changed me."

"By spilling coffee on you and entering a fake marriage?" Her tone was light, but I could see the emotion in her eyes.

"By believing I could be more than just the Ice Man. By creating a home I actually wanted to return to. By showing me that vulnerability isn't weakness."

Her fingers closed around the ring, acceptance in the gesture. "Thank you. I'll treasure it always."

Perfect Home Furnishings had arranged for an elegant ceremony at the historic Club, a refined setting far different from the sterile courthouse of our first wedding. Upon arriving for final preparations, I was pleasantly surprised to find Olivia had followed my specific requests about personal touches.

Most notably, the original wooden sign from Grandma Rose's Bakehouse – saved when the storefront was renovated years ago – had been restored and displayed prominently at the entrance. Sienna's grandmother's handwritten recipes were framed as decorative elements, and the dessert station featured recreations of her signature pastries.

As guests began arriving, I found myself greeting Sienna's parents, whom I was meeting for the first time. Their physical resemblance to their daughter was striking, though their artistic, somewhat bohemian presentation contrasted with Sienna's more practical style.

"So you're the hockey player who's made our daughter happier than we've ever seen her," her father said, studying me with interest. "Even on video calls from Italy, we could see the difference."

"I think it's mutual, sir," I replied honestly. "She's changed my life too."

"Andrea, please," he corrected with a warm smile. "And while we're initially skeptical of anyone who sweeps in so quickly, we can't argue with results." He gestured around at the celebration. "Championship, successful bakery, and most importantly, a daughter who lights up when she talks about you."

Their acceptance – so much warmer than my own father's initial skepticism – touched me deeply. These were people who had flown across continents on short notice simply to witness their daughter's happiness.

Speaking of my father, I spotted my parents entering the venue, my father moving carefully as he continued his recovery from his health scare. I excused myself to greet them, prepared for my father's measured assessment of the situation.

To my surprise, he pulled me into a gentle hug before I could offer a more formal greeting.

"Son," he said, his voice rougher than usual with emotion. "I'm proud of you. Not just for the championship, but for this." He gestured around the gathering. "For finding someone who makes you genuinely happy."

The approval I'd spent decades seeking – delivered now not for athletic achievement but for personal growth – created a lump in my throat I struggled to swallow past.

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