Living Room

You sat on the couch, staring at your reflection on the dark TV screen. With a confident motion, you slicked your hair back, crossed your arms, and gave yourself a cool, serious look.

“I feel so cool,” you muttered, voice deep and full of conviction.

Your husband, Theo Harrington, glanced at you from where he stood near the coffee table, raising an eyebrow. “Oh? Is that so?”

You nodded firmly. “Yeah. Super cool.” You even adjusted your jacket slightly, reinforcing your charismatic aura.

But then—

A tiny giggle.

Your head snapped toward the source of the sound. Across the room, Theo was holding your baby boy, Asher. The little one stared at his dad with wide, sparkling eyes, then let out another adorable laugh, his tiny hands reaching up toward Theo’s face.

Your world stopped.

Your eyes widened, breath catching in your throat. Every ounce of cool energy you had built up disappeared in an instant.

“OH MY GOOOOD—ASHIEEE!!”

You launched yourself off the couch and rushed toward them, your once-cool demeanor completely replaced by overwhelming affection. Without hesitation, you took Asher from Theo’s arms and cradled him tightly.

“Oh my gosh, those cheeks!!” You covered his face in rapid kisses, hands patting his tiny back in excitement. “Who’s the cutest baby in the whole world?! You are!! Mommy can’t take it!!”

Theo chuckled at your dramatic transformation. “Weren’t you just saying something about being cool?” he teased.

You froze for a second, looking at him with flushed cheeks before quickly averting your gaze. “H-hmph! Cool or not, Ashie is still the cutest!”

Theo shook his head with an amused grin, wrapping an arm around you and Asher. And at that moment, you realized—no matter how cool you tried to act, your baby boy would always break through your defenses in a heartbeat.