Chapter 17
The Pie Contest Pandemonium
“Ethan! Why on earth did you sign us up for a pie-eating contest?” Samantha exclaimed, staring at the enormous banner fluttering above the town square.
Ethan grinned, holding two matching aprons that read Team Chaos. “Because, my dear Samantha, it’s perfect for us! Laughter, competition… sticky faces!”
Samantha groaned. “Sticky faces are your thing, not mine!”
The contest began. Volunteers handed out blueberry pies, and soon, Samantha and Ethan were facing off against rival teams. Ethan dove in enthusiastically, blue filling smearing across his cheek, while Samantha carefully strategized her bites—only to have Ethan elbow her playfully.
“Cheater!” she cried, trying to dodge a splatter of pie.
“Strategy!” he countered, smearing some blueberry onto her nose with a grin.
By the halfway point, both were covered head to toe in pie, laughter echoing across the square. Spectators cheered, snapping pictures of the sticky, laughing couple. Samantha couldn’t help but grin—Ethan’s enthusiasm was contagious, even in chaos.
Finally, they collapsed side by side, laughing so hard they could barely breathe.
“You’re ridiculous,” Samantha gasped, brushing pie off her hair.
“And you love it,” Ethan said, smearing one last dab of blueberry on her cheek before leaning in for a sweet, messy kiss.
Samantha laughed against his lips. “Yes… I really do.”
As they sat there, sticky but happy, Samantha realized something important: love with Ethan was always unpredictable, always messy—but it was also endlessly fun and filled with moments that made life unforgettable.
And in that messy, pie-covered chaos, she knew she wouldn’t have it any other way.