Page 29 of Calculated Risk

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"For being chaos. For pushing me to feel instead of calculate. For loving me even when I was an idiot who avoided you for three years."

"Well, you're making up for lost time now."

"I plan to spend the rest of my life making up for lost time."

"The rest of your life? That's a long time, Marcus Chen."

"Not long enough." He kisses me, slow and deep and perfect. "Never long enough with you."

That night, wrapped in sheets and each other, I realize something.

I spent years looking for stability. For someone who would stay. For proof that I was worth the mess.

And I found it in the last person I expected.

The organized boy who fell for chaos.

The calculated boy who took a risk.

The perfect boy who learned that perfect is boring, and messy is beautiful.

"I love you," I whisper into the darkness.

"I love you too," he whispers back. "My perfectly imperfect disaster."

"Your disaster forever."

"Forever sounds perfect."

And it is.

Epologue

One Year Later

Marcus's apartment,ourapartment is exactly as chaotic as I made it and exactly as organized as he needs it to be.

Compromise looks good on us.

I'm in the studio working on my latest commission when I hear the door open.

"I'm home!" Marcus calls.

"Studio!"

He appears in the doorway, loosening his tie. A year into consulting and he still wears full suits every day. I find it adorable and ridiculous in equal measure.

"How was Chicago?"

"Exhausting. Productive. I closed the deal." He kisses me, tasting like coffee and airports. "How's the piece coming?"

"Almost done. The Wu Foundation wants it by next week."

"You'll finish. You always do."

He's right. I always do now. Because I'm not working alone anymore.

"Oh, I almost forgot." He pulls an envelope from his bag. "This came for you."

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