Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

It was a big year-high school entrance exams were looming, so Mrs. Cedillo was running a tight ship.

Naomi shot her husband a look. "You're up early."

Bruce started tripping over his words. "No, Naomi, really, it's not what you think. That was just the class president from when I was a student..."

Naomi raised an eyebrow. "After all these years, you still remember your class president? That's some memory. Must've been something special, huh?"

Bruce just stood there, at a loss.

Meanwhile, Mia and Molly watched like it was the season finale of their favorite show. The whole crew was craning their necks, not even caring that their muscles were starting to ache.

For once, all the Cedillo women—and even the family's old man were united against the Cedillo men. It was a rare sight.

Grandpa Cedillo heaved a dramatic sigh. "Life's gotten so boring. Mia, Molly, why don't you tell Naomi where you two disappeared to that night? Naomi, maybe you could use a little getaway yourself."

The girls exchanged glances. Why were they getting dragged into this now?

Bruce was busy trying to explain himself. “Naomi, we've been married for decades. There's nothing going on. Please, just let me explain what really happened."

But Naomi was having none of it. She stormed upstairs, and Bruce scrambled after her. "Naomi, wait up! Naomi!"

As the family drama fizzled out, the four spectators all turned back around at the same time, suddenly remembering-they were still supposed to be standing in the corner as punishment.

Andre shot his older brother a sympathetic look, then glanced at their dad. Maybe just maybe-Dad never had these kinds of scandals when he was young. Right?

Sensing his chance, Hansen piped up. "Mia, let me tell you, when Andre was littlenoveldrama

"Ahem!" Andre coughed, shooting his dad a warning glare.

Hansen tried again. "Your husband, back when he was a boy-"

"Chad, let's split up the parenting. I'll handle my side, you handle yours."

Andre wasn't 't about to risk any embarrassing childhood stories getting out. He scooped up his little wild one with one arm, grabbed Mia's hand with the other, and steered her straight to the elevator-he wasnt taking any chances on the stairs.

Mia, still hungry for gossip, called, "Dad, what about my husband? What was he

like as a kid? Dad! Come on, tell me before-"

The elevator doors closed with a soft thud, cutting her off. Upstairs, everything went quiet.

Back in the living room, it was just the Chad family and Grandpa Cedillo.

Hansen, feeling pretty clever,

realized that being an old man came with its perks—a whole arsenal of embarrassing stories about his sons if those two ever tried to get smart with him, he could just let one secret slip and let their wives do the rest. '

But there was still one little troublemaker left.

Molly exchanged a look with her dad, who was watching his son-in-law expectantly.

Officer Chad looked at his son, who'd clearly had enough of standing-Wayne just plopped himself right down on the coof tile, then flopped backward with a dramatic thud.

"Hey! Don't hit your head!" Chad leapt off the sofa.

Molly moved on instinct. She stuck out her foot just in time, and Wayne's head landed smack on her foot with a solid whack. Molly gasped, sucking in a sharp breath.

Chad rushed over, nudging Wayne aside and reaching for Molly's ankle. He checked her foot, already red from the impact.

"Chad, I swear, your kid's got a head of solid rock. I think he just broke my foot," Molly groaned, suddenly feeling very put-upon.

Their little iron-headed sweetheart sprawled on the floor, peeking up at his mom, all big eyes and innocent confusion as she nursed her foot.