"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.

head, "Learn from Mia. She stays in the shade while you're out here entertaining

the shade and

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

you call my brother and ask when he'll be

eyebrow, "Why don't you

excuse, "We hang out

out together for over a decade, you're worried about appearances

to argue with her mom, Molly headed upstairs in her

at Molly in

making eye

eaten?" Grandma

change. I'll be heading back to the

upstairs, Molly followed, trying to catch up, a

the doorframe, "Um... Chad, you're

unbuttoned his shirt, answering nonchalantly, "Nah, got work.

really, nothing major." Molly fidgeted at the door, as if she

clean shirt, eyeing her

I'll be waiting

his newlywed wife, who had lately been staying indoors, making him wonder what could possibly be

Molly: "I'll drive you."

and then sat in the passenger seat, "I'll drop you

watching her daughter, went back inside to vent to her husband,

Remember when we first got married? I'd ride a bike to work, and you insisted on riding along for the

quiet so people don't mistake you for a

to their daughter, silently took a drink of

he pulled over, "There's a cab

over to kiss Chad, a kiss

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