The kitchen smelled of coffee and toast. Mina sat stiffly at the table, Ellie in her high chair, banging her spoon with innocent delight. Across from her, Naarah sipped her mug slowly, her eyes fixed on Mina with the kind of expression that promised trouble.
"So," Naarah began casually, stirring her coffee. "Did you enjoy your… cardio last night?"
Mina nearly choked on her toast. "Naarah!"
"What?" Naarah leaned back, smirking. "I'm just asking. Because judging from the walls shaking, it sounded like a marathon. Poor Ellie was fussing half the night. I swear she would look at me like, 'Auntie, make it stop.'"
Mina covered her face with her hands. "Oh my God. Please stop talking."
Ellie squealed, throwing her spoon to the floor. Aaron bent down to pick it up, calm as ever, his mouth curved in a wicked grin. "She doesn't need to stop, princesa. Let her say it. Everyone should know you scream loud enough to wake the dead."
Naarah burst out laughing, clapping her hand over her mouth to keep from spitting coffee everywhere. "You're shameless. Both of you. Absolutely shameless."
Mina glared at Aaron, her cheeks crimson. "You think this is funny?"
Aaron set the spoon back on Ellie's tray, then leaned across the table, his eyes locked on hers. His voice dropped, low and deliberate, for her ears alone. "Funny? No. What's funny is how much you'll miss me tonight."
Her breath caught. "What do you mean?"
He smirked. "I've got business. Won't be here."
For a second, relief flickered across Mina's face — and then, against her will, disappointment sank in. Aaron saw it instantly, his grin widening.
"Don't worry, princesa," he murmured. "I'll make up for it tomorrow night. You'll be begging me to come back early."
Naarah raised a brow, catching the tension. "Oh, no. Absolutely not. One night off, please. Let me sleep without feeling like the house is being torn apart."
Aaron only laughed, sitting back in his chair and stealing a piece of toast from Mina's plate. Mina snatched it back, scowling, her cheeks still burning.
Ellie squealed again, clapping her tiny hands, oblivious to the storm of embarrassment around her.
Naarah sighed, pointing her spoon at Mina. "Better pray your daughter doesn't grow up asking why her mommy and daddy sound like a horror movie at midnight."
Mina groaned into her coffee. Aaron just smirked, eyes gleaming with dark promise.