His truth is layered, complicated, and perfectly his.
And I love every single part of him.
When he finally sets down the flute again, he extends his hand to me. “Dance with me.”
“There’s no music.”
“Don’t need music. Just need you.”
I take his hand, and he pulls me up, spinning me into his arms. We sway together in the living room, no rhythm except the beating of our hearts. Queenie watches from her chair, her expression soft with love.
“I love you, baby,” Nitro murmurs into my hair. “Every curve, every quirk, every brilliant, beautiful part of you. You changed my life.”
“You changed mine too. Made it better in every way.”
“The age gap, the secrets, the lies, all of it was worth it to get here, wasn’t it?”
“Every second,” I agree. “I wouldn’t change a thing.”
We keep dancing, turning slow circles in our living room while Queenie smiles. This moment, right here, is everything. Not perfect, because perfect doesn’t exist. But real. Honest. Full of love and promise and hope for the future.
Nine months ago, I was devastated.
Heartbroken, homeless, lost.
Now, I’m found.
Found by a man who was just as broken, just as lost, who picked me up in an Uber on the worst night of my life and showed me what real love looks like.
Found a family I choose and who choose me back.
Found myself stronger and braver than I ever knew possible.
A love that’s complicated, messy, and absolutely worth fighting for.
A love that ismine.
A love that isfearless.
Nitro tilts my chin up, his dark eyes intense. “Forever, Marley. That’s what I want with you. Forever.”
“Forever,” I agree, reaching up to kiss him. “Starting right now.”
He kisses me back, full of promise.
Behind us, Queenie chuckles. “You two are disgustingly adorable. I’m going to bed before this gets inappropriate.”
“Night, Queenie,” Nitro calls without looking away from me.
“Goodnight, my darlings. I love you both.”
“Love you, too, Queenie,” we say in unison.
She shuffles off to her suite, still smiling, and we’re alone again. Nitro and I, swaying together in the dim light of our living room, in the house we bought together, building the life we fought for.
This is what happiness looks like.
Not the absence of problems or pain, but the presence of love strong enough to weather anything.
