"So she just said' daddy'and nothing else?" Naarah asked flatly, stirring her tea with exaggerated boredom.
Mina slumped dramatically onto the couch beside her. "Not even a 'ma' sound. Do you know how disrespectful that is? I carried her for nine months. Ok maybe eight months— but he just shows up with dimples and suddenly she has a religion."
From across the room, Aaron carried Ellie on his hip like she was an extension of his body. She had one fist tangled in his shirt and the other stuffed proudly in her mouth, content like a queen on her throne. Aaron pressed a kiss to her forehead, then — for no reason other than habit — leaned over and kissed Mina's temple too as he passed.
Naarah's eye twitched. "You see? This is what I mean. Look at this—you've turned into a cling trio. It's disgusting."
Mina glared, but she was smiling. "I am not clingy."
Aaron returned just to drop another kiss on Mina's cheek before walking back again.
"Maybe we can leave Ellie here and continue from what we left off last night." Aaron whispered in her ear.
Mina chuckled and raised a brow at him as an answer.
Naarah scoffed and pointed the spoon at them.
" I heard that and don't even think about it, you two. Shameless parents. I can't believe you, Mina. Really?"
Ellie babbled... then clearly said, "Da-dee," like a warning shot.
Naarah stared at them. "You people don't walk through this house anymore — you float in a bubble of romance and saliva. Every time I blink, he's kissing you like you're going off to war."
Aaron smirked and — just to annoy her — dipped down and kissed Mina again. Mina swatted at him but didn't move away, her lips curving despite herself.
"You know," Naarah said dryly, sipping her tea with the air of a judge, "I made the right decision telling you both to get your own house. If I had to wake up one more morning to you two kissing and fucking yourselves in the kitchen like a drama series and this baby chanting daddy like a cult prayer in my room. I would have moved to another continent."
Mina tried to look offended. Failed. "You love us."
"I tolerate you," Naarah corrected. "Barely. This—" she gestured at Aaron, who was now kissing Ellie's chubby cheek while she giggled, "—this is why I kicked you both out. I refuse to be the third wheel in my own home."
Aaron looked entirely unbothered. With Ellie on his hip and Mina tucked under his arm like she belonged there, he kissed Mina's forehead again, soft and sure.
Naarah threw her hands in the air. "THAT. THAT EXACT BEHAVIOR. You see? I rest my case."
Mina leaned into Aaron's side despite trying not to smile. Ellie babbled again — "Da—dee" — proud and loud like she had just delivered a divine statement.
Naarah groaned into her mug. "Great. Two devils raising a mini-devil. God save us all."
But even she couldn't hide the faint smile tugging at her lips.