Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Molly still felt like she hadn't really grown up. But ever since she became a mom, everyone just assumed she was suddenly an adult-like she had to flip a switch and go from being a kid to someone who had it all figured out.

"No wonder Mia always said that before she became a mom, everyone treated her like a little girl who'd never really grown up. But after she had a baby, even she started seeing herself as an adult. Only I, Andre, kept reminding her, 'Mia's still a kid-she's still got school, still got books to read.""

Coleen knew her daughter's quirks all too well. "Don't get all snarky with me. If you could handle being a mom half as well as Mia does, I'd be impressed."

"Well, if Wayne was even half as much trouble as Henry- Ow! Mom, Wayne's pulling my hair!"

Coleen was driving, but she shot a warning look in the rearview mirror. "Wayne, let go. Don't mess with your sister's hair or Grandma's gonna have words with you."

Wayne let go, wide-eyed and innocent, lips jutting out in a pout.

Anya wanted to sneak a look at Henry before leaving, but when she checked his location, she sighed. "He's at the Irvin place. Forget it-Cooper's home."

Anya didn't even try to argue.

There was just no winning when Cooper was involved.

At the Irvin family's living room-

Henry had spent the day "inspecting" things, dragging home covered in dirt.

Andre came in from work and, out of habit, scooped up his little tiger cub and plopped down on the couch, settling Henry on his lap.

Cooper was still bragging about how he'd taken Henry to the office. "Sis, I get why you like bringing him to work now. Everyone kept saying how cute he is."

Andre just said, "Nah, I take him to work because he gets in your sister's way if he stays home."

Cooper: "..."

Henry grinned at his uncle, showing off his tiny teeth.

Yep, if he caused too much chaos at home and bugged Mom, Dad would just whisk him away.

Mia always thought anyone looking after her son would be worn out in a few days. But Cooper was a loophole-he'd managed Henry solo for four days straight, and Henry hadn't even called his mom once.

Mia started worrying that if Henry spent any more time with his uncle, he'd decide he could just live there forever. So she scooped up her son, and the three of them move@back to Maplewood Estates.

Wayne hung out at Grandpa's during the day, playing with him.

Hansen, already an old hand at grandparenting, found taking care of his grandson a breeze-this one wasn't nearly as much trouble as his own son had been. Hansen Was happy to have the company.

Anya went back to Willowtown with her parents. She put on a big show of not wanting to leave, but when it came time to go, she didn't even look back.

Leo realized women could act one way to your face and another behind your back.noveldrama

So, he went back to his single life and started calling up friends. "Chunky, let's move. Come rent a place in my neighborhood."

Chunky cursed under his breath but eventually gave up his old apartment of five years and moved into a new place at Bluewater Heights—same building as Leo, just a different floor.

Summer break had officially started.

Every morning, Leo dragged Chunky out for a brisk walk, then after breakfast, they'd head to the university's incubator center to meet the students Leo had handpicked.

The youngest was a junior this year. Whatever their professors couldn't teach, Chunky could-with real hands-on skills. “Leo, where'd you find this mentor? He's amazing."

Leo grinned. "Stick close and learn from him. What he knows, you'll never find in a textbook."

Whenever anyone brought up Greg-the school's former golden boy, now a cautionary tale-Chunky would scoff, "If it weren't for me—”

"Hey, what's for lunch?" Leo cut in.