Page 174 of Undisputed Chaos
"Toffee rules the land mammals. Neptune and my piranhas can have aquatic dominion. It's a fair division of power."
I shook my head, still laughing as I leaned into his chest.
Adrian never failed to surprise me with his capacity for love, protection,andinsane humor.
My phone buzzed again, and I glanced at it with a smile:
Sierra
Emergency! Toffee has been sitting by my window for twenty minutes staring in the direction of your place.
I think he's planning a Neptune visit.
Estelle
Leo just asked if Neptune can have a sleepover with Dino. What have you done, Isla?
I showed Adrian the messages, and his grin was bright and wild.
"Looks like Neptune's fan club is growing," he said.
"Think we should set up viewing hours?" I asked.
"Absolutely. Professional turtle-watching requires proper scheduling."
We settled onto the floor beside Neptune's tank, my back against Adrian's chest, his arms wrapped around me while we watched our aquatic friend navigate his underwater kingdom.
The late afternoon light painted everything in gold, creating a peaceful cocoon around us.
"I love our life," I said softly, meaning every word.
"Even the chaos?" he asked, pressing a kiss to the top of my head.
I twisted in his arms to look at him. "Especiallythe chaos."
"You love the chaos?” he teased with complete confidence.
"I love you," I corrected, then kissed him to prove it.
As the golden hour light began to shift toward evening, I reflected on how far we'd come.
Just months ago, I'd been hiding parts of myself, afraid to create anything too honest, too raw.
Now my studio was filled with canvases that told the truth—about love and pain, about finding light in darkness.
About the way two broken people could fit together and become whole.
The girl who'd painted safe, pretty pictures was gone forever.
In her place was a woman who understood that the most beautiful art came from the deepest truth.
And the most beautiful truth was the love we'd built together, chaotic and perfect and absolutely unbreakable.
This was home. This was family. This was the masterpiece we'd painted together, one chaotic, perfect brushstroke at a time.
Adrian held me close in the fading light, surrounded by art, love, and the gentle movements of a turtle who’d somehow become the center of an expanding universe of affection.
I knew I was home.
