Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Molly snatched up the key, grinning as she played along. "So, what's this for?"

"You honestly don't remember, or are you just pretending?"

Molly laughed. "Of course I remember. We promised back then-whoever gets their own place first leaves a key for the other, no matter what." Back then, "home" meant something just for them—not their parents' place, not some future

husband's. It was their own little corner of the world.

Leaving a spare key meant always keeping a spot for each other.

Molly tucked the key away, her heart warm.

They squeezed into the elevator, three strollers packed in every which way, everyone jostling for space.

Henry had already figured out how to unbuckle his seatbelt, so Mia had to get creative. She put on a whole act for her son, pretending to scold—mostly for show.

Wayne played the "bad guy." With his seatbelt undone, he stuck out his little butt, and his aunt gave him a dramatic pat-loud enough to echo. From Henry's angle, it looked just like a real spanking.

Hearing that sharp smack, Henry licked his lips, tiptoed over, and lifted his arms. "Mommy, carry me." He was suddenly the model child.

"Are you going to sneak out of your stroller again?" Mia asked.

Henry shook his head right away. No chance-after hearing how loud Mommy smacked his brother, even his own bottom felt sore just thinking about it!

With no big cousin to lead the chaos, the three little rascals were surprisingly well- behaved on the way home.

It was almost two by the time they finally got back.

As soon as they walked in, there were the two grandpas, both yawning like they'd just woken up. "There's my little buddy!" One called out. Henry didn't hesitate—he wriggled out of his stroller and dove straight into Grandpa's arms.

"Good boy, you're back! Give Grandpa a kiss."

Molly, yawning contagiously, teased, "Late night, Dad? Looks like you two had quite the party."

Seeing his mom yawn, Wayne's mouth stretched wide, eyes already drooping with sleep.

"Eh, nothing too wild," Grandpa replied. "But you girls-now you two outdid us. Didn't even come home last night."

Naomi came over with a bowl of fruit, looking at the whole ragtag crew. "You know, you both blocked them on Facebook. I couldn't even look Andre or Chad in the eye this morning." noveldrama

Mia and Molly flopped on the couch, melting into the cushions.

Suddenly Naomi's words clicked, and both women shot upright at the same time. "Wait-Naomi, did you say they both stayed here last night?"

Naomi looked puzzled but nodded. "Yeah, they both came home from work early, waited for you two on the couch till it was dark. When you still didn't show, they called. You didn't know?"

Mia and Molly exchanged worried glances. Jade, ever the skeptic, frowned. "That doesn't add up—Chad told me he was at the Byrnes' last night.”

Aimee, who lived for drama, raised an eyebrow. "Jade, sounds like Chad's digging you a hole again."

After pulling an all-nighter together, everyone pretty much knew what was up in each other's homes.

Molly said, "You don't think those two would get bored enough to swap notes and figure out where we were, do you?"

Mia frowned, gears turning. "I think they would.”

"What?"

"Otherwise, how do you explain that after that one call last night, none of our guys have checked in? Usually if we disappear for even a few hours, they'recalling nonstop-asking if we've eaten, wanting to hear our voices..."