Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Anya said simply, "Taking advantage of people isn't cool. You'll end up with no friends."

Leo grinned, pulling his girlfriend close. "Thanks for the lesson, Ms. Anya. When Chad starts earning, we'll treat everyone to dinner and pay it back."

Later, Leo leaned in and told Anya, "Since we're the kids in the family, Grandpa, my uncles-none of them would let us pay for a meal before we graduate. What Mia said back then was just to tease me and keep me from airing Grandpa's dirty laundry."

Anya caught on. "So Grandpa really snuck some food?"

"Oh, definitely."

That night, in the Cedillo family's home, Mia stepped out of the bathroom, carrying their freshly bathed little dumpling. She spotted her husband reading a manual and called out, "Babe, what did Dad sneak this afternoon?"

"Ice cream," he replied.

Little Henry's face snapped toward his dad. "Daddy, Grandpa had bicream!"

Mia stifled a laugh. "Sweetheart, it's 'ice cream.' And don't eat it, or your tummy will hurt-see, Grandpa's tummy hurts now."

Henry, worried about Grandpa, insisted on going to check on him.

Hansen was already in bed, but Andre brought their son over anyway.

I'm fine, really," Hansen

wanted to take care of you. He wouldn't take

squeezed Grandpa's hand.

into Grandpa's bed, sticking one little leg under the covers, but his heartless dad scooped him up and carried him

him lie down. "Dad, you're not getting any younger. I worry about Mia eating the wrong thing at her age, and here you are sneaking snacks

"Old folks

cream in the summer, but you sneak it now? When you get sick, you're the one who suffers. We can't

17.

you know." Andre set

water by

leaving.

not

their son. "Is Dad still feeling well? If it gets worse, we should

together." Content bespie

some medicine. He looks better. If he's

folks sure know how

bed, watching their son

boy's chubby foot. "Short

zip him in-see if he can