Page 73 of Undisputed Chaos
"Mom, Dad, Crew," I managed, my voice high and lost. "This is Adrian."
Adrian stepped forward, extending a hand that made my six-foot-tall father look almost small.
"Adrian. Pleasure to meet you, sir." His voice was warm, respectful, though I could see the amusement dancing in his eyes.
"James," my father rumbled, visibly pulling himself together as he shook Adrian's hand. "That's quite a grip you've got there."
"Occupational hazard," Adrian replied smoothly, turning that megawatt smile on Mom. "Mrs. Hills, seems your daughter failed to mention where she got her beautiful eyes from."
My mother, never one to be easily flustered, actually smiled, charmed. "Please, call me Ivette. It's lovely to meet you, Adrian."
All this time, Crew had remained motionless, gaping like a fish. Adrian turned to him last, extending his hand. "And you must be Crew. Heard you're a soccer star in the making.”
Adrian pulled out my chair, guiding me onto it by my nape, before taking his own seat between Mom and me.
Crew, whose mind was clearly exploding, made a strangled noise that might have been an attempt at words.
He managed to lift his hand for the limpest handshake in history.
"You—you're—" he stuttered, face flushing crimson. "You're Adrian, the CATALYST! Boxing LEGEND! You knocked out Santana in twelve seconds!"
Adrian's smile turned sly, showing just a hint of teeth. "Eleven-point-five, but who's counting?"
"OH MY GOD," Crew finally managed at full volume, causing several nearby diners to turn. "When Isla said 'Adrian,’ I thought… I mean—I never—YOU WORE A GLITTERY CROP TOP TO THE WEIGH-IN!”
Dad closed his eyes. Adrian just boomed a laugh, delighted and amused. “Yeah, sponsors were not thrilled. But honestly, you only get one shot at icon status. Worth it.”
He winked at Crew, who looked like he might actually faint.
Mom cleared her throat, trying to reel things in. "Adrian, Crew tells us you two met rather... recently?" The question was delicate, her way of asking what exactly was happening without being too direct.
Adrian’s massive frame made the restaurant chair look child-sized in comparison. He stretched an arm along the back of my own, fingers brushing my shoulder in a clear and obviousclaim.
"Love at first sight, Mrs. Hills," he said with absolute sincerity, though his eyes glinted with mischief. "Took one look at your daughter and knew I'd met my match. I had to chase her down a bit—she played hard to get."
I nearly choked on my water. "That's not exactly?—"
"She ran away," Adrian continued, grinning at my family like he was sharing a delightful secret they wouldn’t find insanely concerning. "Literally ran. But I'm pretty fast for a big guy."
My father's eyebrows rose to his hairline. "Is that right?" He turned to me. "Isla?"
Before I could answer, Crew leaned across the table, completely ignoring the conversation.
"Is it true you have pet piranhas? And that you once fought with a dislocated shoulder? Do you really?—”
“Crew, let’s order, shall we?” Mom interjected, somehow both sweet and steel.
The waiter arrived, looking frazzled as Adrian turned his attention to the menu.
"Bottle of your best champagne," Adrian said smoothly. "We're celebrating."
"We are?" my father asked, bemused.
Adrian's other hand found mine under the table, thumb tracing circles on my palm as he smiled at my family.
"Meeting the people who raised this angelic woman? Absolutely worth celebrating."
My mother's expression softened, and even my father seemed to relax slightly. Crew, however, was still bouncing in his seat, practically vibrating with excitement.
