Mia's POV"Is it fair?" Ethan's brow furrows. "The distribution seems equitable, but we haven't established any criteria for the naming process. What if someone chooses a name that another person wanted?""Then they deal with it," Kyle says."That seems arbitrary.""Life is arbitrary, Ethan." Kyle's mouth curves. Just slightly. "The sooner you learn that, the happier you'll be."Ethan opens his mouth. Closes it. Opens it again."That's surprisingly nihilistic for 6 AM," he says finally.Kyle laughs. The sound is weak—barely more than a breath—but it's there. Real. And something in my chest loosens just a little at the sound of it."Okay." Alexander is already moving, sliding off the couch, crossing to the whelping box with the kind of energy that only five-year-olds and certain varieties of terrier seem to possess. "I get to pick first because I'm the oldest.""You're not the oldest," Ethan says. "We're twins.""I was born seven minutes before you.""Seven minutes doesn't constitute—"
Last Updated : 2025-12-26 Read more