Page 83 of One Pucking Life

“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 lookis simple but absolutely stunning. I don’t think she’s ever been more beautiful.

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