"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.

on Anya's sweaty head,

warm little one to the shade and handed him to Mia, "Time's

kept glancing at the door, wondering when Chad

brother and ask

eyebrow, "Why don't

made up an excuse, "We hang out

out together for over a decade, you're

argue with her mom, Molly headed upstairs

evening, glancing at Molly in the living room as

avoided making

have you eaten?"

back to change. I'll be heading

to catch

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

nonchalantly,

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

a clean shirt, eyeing her partially hidden figure, "What

hard. I'll be waiting at

Molly quickly left. Officer Chad, now dressed, came out to see his newlywed wife, who had lately been staying

Molly: "I'll drive you."

passenger seat, "I'll drop you off at the station, then take a

daughter, went back inside to vent to her husband, "What's with your

we first got married? I'd ride a bike

so

his wife's resemblance to their daughter, silently took a drink of

neared the station, he pulled over, "There's a cab here. I'll watch you

unbuckled her seatbelt and suddenly leaned over to kiss Chad, a kiss out

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