"Donnie?" Molly called out again, hoping to get a response.

Chad looked up from his work, "He's busy."

Molly sighed, "..."

The game had just started, and Molly had already messed up, dragging Donnie's score down with her. Soon after, her avatar went gray, signaling her defeat.

Chad, with a faint smile, handed the phone back to Donnie, "Back to work, man."

"You're a sly one, boss," Donnie chuckled.

The other team members couldn't help but notice Chad's unique way of dealing with Molly. "Captain, do you get your unconventional interrogation techniques from dealing with Molly?" one of them joked. Chad laughed, "I can't deny she's been quite the teacher in that department."

Just as everyone was settling in for an all-nighter, a delivery arrived with a note: "From your wife."

No one needed to ask; everyone knew who it was from. Only the captain's wife would stay up so late to send over a midnight snack.

Chad put down his paperwork, "Alright, let's share the food and keep going."

Chad didn't go home that night, diving straight into the next day's work. Molly didn't dare call him again.

The next day, Mia called Molly to check in, "How's it going?"

"Haven't seen him. Got caught up playing games until dawn," Molly admitted.

"Good luck with that," Mia said before hanging up.

Mia, noticing Anya sunbathing, called out, "Anya, stop chasing Henry around or you'll both get dizzy."

The spring weather was perfect, a pleasant twenty-something degrees with a gentle breeze. Anya, holding a small blanket, wrapped little Henry in it and ran around on the mat, making him giggle with joy.

out with a large fisherman's hat and placed it on Anya's sweaty head, "Learn from Mia. She stays in the shade while you're out here entertaining

warm little one to the shade

the Byrne household wasn't as relaxed. Molly kept glancing at the door, wondering when Chad would

can you call my brother and ask when he'll be back?"

raised an eyebrow, "Why don't you

an excuse, "We hang out all the

over a decade, you're worried about

her mom, Molly headed upstairs in her

glancing at Molly in the living room as

making eye

have you eaten?" Grandma

came back to change. I'll be heading back to

went upstairs, Molly followed, trying to catch up, a smirk playing on

walk-in closet, Molly leaned against the doorframe, "Um...

shirt, answering nonchalantly, "Nah, got work.

Molly fidgeted at the door, as

into a clean shirt, eyeing her partially hidden

I'll be waiting

wife, who had lately been staying indoors, making him wonder what could possibly be the matter. "I'm off then,"

Molly: "I'll drive you."

him to the car and then sat in the passenger seat, "I'll drop

inside to vent to her

I'd ride a bike to work, and you insisted on riding

Could you keep quiet so people don't mistake you for

to their daughter, silently took a drink

pulled over, "There's a cab here. I'll

kiss Chad, a kiss out of

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