Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Mr. Nettleton snapped a photo of the flowers he'd just bought and dropped it in the guys' group chat, showing off without a hint of shame. “Getting married is just an endless money pit. These flowers alone cost me almost eighty bucks today."

Barely two minutes later, Andre didn't bother with words-he just sent a screenshot of a bank transfer.

Sender: Andre. Recipient: Mia. Amount: $520,000.

See? No one can outspend Andre.

Asher piped up, “Conner, you're not even in the same league as Andre."

Conner shot back, “Annie loves the flowers I give her. It doesn't matter how much you spend—nothing beats me showing up with a bouquet just for her.”

Mars chimed in, “Conner, you seriously need to check your local prices. You're getting ripped off, man. Look at these bigger than yours, and not even sixty bucks."

Mars attached a picture, clearly proud of his own flowers.

Conner retorted, "What do you know? I bought two-one for Annie, one for Lizzy."

Teddy, their perpetually single friend, asked Mars, “So, you and Milka back together?"

"It's only a matter of

snickered, "So the

I'm still waiting for your daughter

counting on anybody, it's

Asher and added,

assumed Teddy was referring to Andre's second kid, but only Andre raised an eyebrow,

moment later, Andre called Teddy. "Teddy, does Asher have something

and it's been a

with a bouquet in her arms, grinning

way, Anya spotted her and skipped over, eyes wide. "Whoa, Milka, did Uncle Mars send you those?" Milka

a good guess, though. Ever since she'd come back, things with Mars had been a mess of unresolved feelings. No one else would

the bouquet downstairs and carried

at her desk, lost in thought, staring at the flowers and certain Mars wouldn't be able to resist

on cue,

over to the window

free tonight?" Mars

mood soared. "What's

about a little date under