Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Chad's boss kicked off a round of applause, grinning ear to ear. "Ha! Looks like Henry's ready to step into Chad's shoes. Good kid-twenty years from now, Grandpa Johnson will be waiting for you at the station."

The host jumped right in, keeping the jokes coming and the mood light.

Chad held his son close, looking down at his little face, gently running his fingers over Henry's tiny hand. He couldn't help but beam. "So you went straight for Dad's medal, huh? Thinking about being a cop like me someday?"

Henry looked up with big, innocent eyes, then burst into a giggle and dove into his dad's arms, completely melting Chad's heart.

The three of them posed for a family photo at the birthday table, then everyone squeezed in for a big group shot with the Byrnes before the feast began.

At the table, conversation turned to the Cedillo family's Henry and what he'd picked during his birthday grab. Most hadn't been there, so they were itching to know. Hansen let out a booming laugh. "That little guy? He's sharp-didn't want any of the stuff. Just held tight to his mom and dad and wouldn't let go. He already knows who's the best catch."

Henry sat there, mouth surrounded by a sticky ring of barbecue sauce. "Cooper, more food!"

Cooper fed him, then Leo, then Anya, and Henry grabbed whatever he could reach himself. Mia watched, half amused, half exasperated. "Whose kid are you, anyway?"

"I'm from over there!" Henry chirped, mispronouncing the words in that adorable baby way.

Everyone cracked up. Mia egged him on, "And who's your dad?"

"Daddy's the real catch, and Mommy's from over there," Henry replied without missing a beat.

Soon enough, "the real catch" himself-Andre-came to check on his son, only to find Henry a sticky, messy mess. "Want Daddy to hold you?"

"You're too dirty, bud. Not picking you up like

pouted, clearly not

resist for long. He scooped Henry up anyway, wiped his cheeks and little hands clean, and only then

down. The Cedillo and Byrne families took

the way back, Cooper was driving his sister's family since her husband had had a few

barely been home two days. "Sis, mind

just stay over

"Or how about

got close to Maplewood

Cooper suddenly changed

the Irvin family house.

and steered

and she's already got a boyfriend.

think I

a look. "You try, and I'll

you're only twenty-three, but you nag like you're

don't want you to

single some sort of

Mia: ""

Andre: "..."