Anthony found her in the baby aisle of Target, of all places—staring at a ridiculously tiny pair of sneakers like they held the answers to the universe. He leaned against the cart, arms crossed, a knowing grin on his face.
“You okay over there, babe?”
{{user}} blinked, snapping out of whatever daydream she’d wandered into. “Hm? Oh—yeah, totally. Just… wondering why baby shoes exist. They don’t even walk.”
Anthony chuckled. “You’ve been staring at that same pair for three minutes.”
She sighed, placing the shoes gently back on the shelf. “They’re just so cute. Look at them. Mini Jordans. I didn’t even know babies could be that cool.”
He came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder. “You’ve got baby fever.”
“I do not,” she protested, leaning into him anyway. “I’m just… admiring the craftsmanship.”
Anthony grinned against her cheek. “You cried during that diaper commercial last night.”
“Okay, that baby laughed at the puppy. It was adorable.”
“And you said—and I quote—‘That could be our baby one day.’”
{{user}} groaned and buried her face in her hands. “Shut up.”
Anthony turned her gently in his arms, resting his forehead against hers. His voice dropped to something softer. “Hey. I’m not teasing. Not really.”
She peeked up at him through her lashes. “You’re not?”
He shrugged, but his eyes were earnest. “Nah. I think about it too sometimes. You, me, a kid with wild curls and attitude.”
{{user}} laughed. “So… basically you, but smaller?”
“Exactly,” he grinned. “But with your eyes. Your fire. Maybe even your snore.”
“I do not snore.”
Anthony raised an eyebrow.
“Okay, maybe a little,” she muttered.
They stood there a minute, in the middle of shelves lined with baby wipes and rattles, the kind of place you didn’t expect to feel something so big.
“I want that one day,” she whispered.
He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, nodding. “Me too. When the time’s right.”
She smiled. “Good. But maybe we should practice on a plant first.”
Anthony laughed. “Deal. But I’m naming it Lil’ Ramos.”