Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Heat still clinging to her skin, Mia scooped her son up with one arm and gave his chubby cheek a playful squeeze. "You had two pieces again, huh?"

"Honey, it was two and a half. I split the popsicle in half, but he stole a chunk from me," she said, shooting her husband a look.

Little Henry stuck out his bottom lip, still sulky from Dad's stern talking-to. Now he had to tag along as they headed over to Grandma's place to see his uncle.

In the back seat, Mia and Henry sat together. Henry knelt up, fidgeting, and tried to poke at the sunroof.

"Just wait till your brother gets home. I bet you'll love his sports car," Mia teased.

Henry chirped in his baby voice, "Brother calls me sweetie-"

"Oh, by the way," Mia turned to her husband, "is Anya staying here for the summer, or headed back?"

Andre replied, "She's going back. Liam and Naomi stayed just to pick her up after break starts, then they'll all head back together."

Mia gave a knowing sigh. "Leo's going to miss her so much. He never wants Anya to leave."

Andre's tone turned a little sharp. "He's a grown man, always moping about love. He needs to get it together." Even Henry could tell Dad was annoyed. He piped up, "Daddy's mad-"

Mia grinned. "Says the guy who's all romance and sweet nothings with me. Aren't you a grown man too?"

Andre huffed, "That's different. He's supposed to be building his future, not daydreaming all day."

now that you're at the top

seconds. "Not at the

"Huh?" Mia blinked.

hoping for some juicy

kept driving, repeating,

leaving Henry to his own devices, and peered into the front

didn't want to talk about

son chatted about nothing in particular as

house, Henry had already bolted. Grandma scooped him up to show him some new toys, Grandpa grabbed him for a stroll, and Uncle Ed-who both adored and

wn vol.nz

until Henry was so dizzy he could barely stand, tumbling into his

a moment to herself, curling up

sat across

with

little "experiments

chatted with Mia.

want to

up a fuss—he was still a kid, after all—insisting they go

sweltering and the streets were empty,

mom geared up with hats and sunscreen and took him out