Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Molly felt a twinge of guilt thinking about her spat with Chad. Despite their argument, he had been patient and coaxed her back into good spirits.

"Alright, enough about me," she said, turning to Mia. "What's going on with you and Andre? Why's he not helping you out?"

Mia sighed heavily. "Andre won't lift a finger to help. He's dumped his entire graduation thesis on me."

Molly paused for a moment, then burst into laughter. "Welcome to the club!"

Mia rested her chin in her hand, looking despondent.

"Didn't get much sleep last night, huh?" Molly observed, noticing her friend's weariness.

"Is it that obvious?" Mia thought back to her son's restless night. "He'd cry when he was hungry, cry when he had a dirty diaper, cry when it was too dark, and cry when the light was on. One minute I'm rubbing his belly, the next I'm up walking him around. I mean, seriously, taking care of a baby shouldn't be this hard, right?"

Molly asked, "Usually, isn't it Andre who gets up at night to look after Henry while you catch some sleep?"

Mia thought of her husband. "It's possible. Last night he kept showing up at the door. Every time the baby cried, he was there, reminding me what to do. You know, my husband's actually pretty responsible."

The two friends pondered if they might have been taking their men for granted.

"Mia, you should get some sleep tonight. You're sporting some serious dark circles. You're still recovering from childbirth; you can't overdo it."

Mia was candid with her bestie. "I just can't swallow my pride."

Jade chimed in, "Honestly, I don't even know how to sweet-talk Chad anymore."

The worries were back.

were last night. We'll make it seem like we're spilling the

"Molly, I'm sticking with

unsuspecting guys were lured into the

looking pretty down. Did you give her a hard time? Nothing seems to

only one who can

have no idea how much Molly adores you, Chad," Mia said with

...

eyes, she looks more like a grandma than a fresh 21-year-old. It must be all the stress from taking care of the baby." Andre remembered his

see her every day. Us girls notice these things right away. Mia was practically falling asleep standing up. Have

...

Mia and Molly exchanged covert winks. The men had taken the bait; now it

was reeling with Mia's words. "Molly, I didn't mean to come down on you. And it's not just because I feel sorry for

more smoothly, without leaving any trace. Remember the other night when I had to smooth things over with the neighbors? If the cops had come for

hadn't handled things as well as she

of

think

"Spit-take!"

sputtering. Chad quickly handed her a tissue while keeping

did Mia say?!"

Estates, Mia brushed off her husband's suspicions. "Andre, don't believe Molly's nonsense. I love only you. Even if you don't help me with my thesis, I understand you're just worried about my defense. And it doesn't change how I feel about you. There's no one else for me. You were my first love, and I'm devoted to you. Before you, I was single; now I'm a married woman. Those other guys

might get mad at you, but that's because I

of last night caring for our son, with no time to regret marrying you. And marrying you is the best thing that's ever happened to me. How could I ever

I'm not vain. I'd be right there with you, eating bread and butter. I'm willing to endure hardship with you. And I can support us all

wild stories. I can confront her face