Samantha leaned against him, feeling the warmth of his arm around her shoulders.“I like our little escapes,” she whispered.“Even if they always end in some ridiculous mess.”
Ethan chuckled softly.“Mess or not, I love these moments with you.”
She looked at him, heart fluttering.“Ethan… I’ve been thinking. I don’t just like you for your chaos, your jokes, or your messy adventures. I like you… all of you. Even the parts you think are flaws.”
His expression softened, and he brushed a strand of hair from her face.“Sam… I feel the same way. I love the way you laugh, the way you roll your eyes at me, the way you somehow make my chaos feel… right.”
Samantha smiled, eyes sparkling in the moonlight.“You’re impossible, you know that?”
“I know,” he said softly, leaning closer.“But I hope you never change that. I hope we never change that.”
And as they sat together, gazing at the stars, the world below faded away. For once, there was no spilled coffee, no pie, no canoe accidents—just them, and the quiet, perfect magic of being together.
Ethan pressed a gentle kiss to her temple, and Samantha felt a warmth she couldn’t put into words. Maybe love wasn’t always about chaos—it could be simple, tender, and just as thrilling.
Chapter 19:
The Escape Room Extravaganza
“Ethan, why do I feel like this is going to end badly?” Samantha asked as they entered the dimly lit escape room, the door clicking shut behind them.
Ethan grinned, brandishing a flashlight.“Because it’s going to be hilarious, that’s why! Team Chaos, remember?”
Samantha groaned.“You really named us that?”
“Of course! And we’re going to win this… or die trying.”
The room was filled with puzzling locks, cryptic notes, and strange objects scattered around. They split up, searching for clues, though Samantha soon realized Ethan’s“strategy” mostly involved knocking things over, tripping over wires, and making dramatic guesses.
“Ethan! You’re supposed to look for clues, not throw the books around!” Samantha laughed, ducking as he nearly toppled a shelf.
“I am looking!” he protested.“Strategically!”
By the halfway point, they were both laughing so hard they could barely focus. A series of mishaps—including a fake spider, a misread riddle, and a minor tumble into a pile of cushions—made them the center of the escape room staff’s attention.
Finally, after an epic combination of guesswork, sheer luck, and Ethan accidentally finding the key in a stack of puzzle boxes,they burst out of the room victorious—though covered in dust and slightly bruised.
“You know,” Samantha said, brushing dust off her jacket,“I think I love that we make disasters look so fun.”
Ethan smirked, brushing dust off her shoulder.“That’s the beauty of us. Messy, ridiculous… and unbeatable.”
Samantha laughed, linking her arm with his.“Unbeatable, huh? Well, I guess Team Chaos really is unstoppable.”
And as they walked out of the escape room, triumphant and disheveled, Samantha realized once again that life with Ethan was a wild ride—messy, hilarious, and impossible not to love.
Chapter 20:
Perfectly Messy
It was a sunny Sunday afternoon, and Samantha found herself sitting on a park bench, waiting for Ethan.
“Finally,” she muttered to herself as she saw him jogging toward her, holding a small picnic basket.“He’s late… of course.”
Ethan arrived, out of breath but grinning, tripping slightly over the bench as he dropped the basket.“Sorry! Traffic… chaos… you know.”
Samantha laughed, shaking her head.“You’re hopeless.”
“Hopelessly yours,” he added, holding out the picnic blanket.
