Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Leo's place was a converted garage-still half-finished, but the rent was rock- bottom and the space was massive. The owner used to lease it out as a warehouse. Downside? It was a pain to live in: freezing in the winter, boiling in the summer. Still, when you weighed the pros and cons, this was the spot.

"If you don't tough it out when you're young, you'll regret it when you're old," Chunky muttered, trying to pep himself up.

Leo laughed. "Where I'm from, everyone says you've got to grind when you're young so you can kick back later. But abroad? Kids get pampered, everyone lives in the moment. Guess it depends on how you grow up."

"So which do you think is better?" Chunky asked.

Leo shrugged, grinning. "Honestly? I'm old-school—a straight-up traditionalist. I still think your youth is for hustling. Otherwise, how does anything get better?"

They both cracked up.

Just then, the two women walked in, each with a toddler tucked under an arm. Henry and Wayne, the little guys, gawked at the noise and sparks from the construction inside. A welder in a big mask sent sparks everywhere—those two were mesmerized.

The second Henry spotted Leo, he hollered, "Bro!”

Wayne piped up right behind him, "Hey!"

Leo paused mid-conversation and turned around. "Well, well, look who showed up

all four little rascals!" He broke into a smile, genuinely happy.

strode over, scooping up the "dragon" kid in one arm and the "tiger" in the

wandered off to

the women's style and blurted out, “Wow, they're gorgeous! Way better

the two squirmy kids. "Why not ask whose kids

blinked. "So, whose are

Henry piped up, "Daddy's!"

dummy,

Henry got confused. "Where?"

"Point to

was poking around nearby. He shouted, "Over there! Come

exploring, called back, "Hang on, let me

who still hadn't managed to say much, and

sighed. "Figures the pretty ones always get snatched up by

me. But why do you

Mia. "That's

Molly. "That's my

"All family."

looked from Mia

and suddenly remembered the

and