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“Me too!” Ilaria hopped off the bed, waddling over.

“Aw,” I said as Ilaria stopped next to her sisters. “That’s her tenth word today.”

Ilaria did not like speaking. She could, but when she didn’t have to, she simply didn’t.

Instead, she did a lot of hand gestures as well as making little sounds of agreement or disagreement. Most of the time she only repeated words she heard.

The majority of the time Antonio and I would catch her speaking clearly when she played by herself, but other than that she didn’t speak.

I think she took after her father in the sense of not talking a lot. Well then… the twins must be like me because they speak any chance they get.

“Come on, Daddy!” Arabella jumped up, holding her arms in the air.

“Er, excuse me?” I frowned down at them. “Go get your own husband.” I teased and they pouted.

Arabella then hit Antonio’s leg. “Please!” She whined, dragging out the word.

Athena nudged Arabella’s arm and she looked at her sister in confusion. A mischievous little smile grew on Athena’s face and I stared down at them in suspicion.

“Okay, what was that look?” I asked and they did the exact same thing Nereus and I used to do growing up—communicating silently— before nodding.

“I already have a boyfriend!” Athena yelled out, putting her hands on her hips. “But he’s not a husband yet.”

“Yeah, yeah, and I already have a girlfriend.” Arabella nodded.

“Don’t you mean boyfriend?” Athena whispered to her sister.

“No. Lola is a girl,” Arabella said and they both shared a look of understanding before turning back to us.

“What?” Antonio and I asked in unison.

“Yeah. His name is Malakai but he lets me call him Kai.” Athena smiled shyly.

“We met them at the park with Rosalia. They come there often.” Bella further explained.

“Now I get why ‘kissing boys’ was so gross,” I softly said to Antonio and realization hit him.

Antonio lowered me and I carefully crouched before the girls. “So when did you get a boyfriend?” I pointed at Athena “And you get a girlfriend?” I pointed at Arabella in confusion. Let’s dissect whatever the fuck is going on here.

“Hold on.” Antonio spoke up. “You.” He pointed at Arabella. “You’re fine. And you.” He pointed at Athena.” You’re not allowed to have a boyfriend until you’re thirty.”

“Oh but Daddy, that’s not fair,” she pouted, arms crossed over her chest. “How come Arabella gets to have a girlfriend.”

“That’s exactly why. No boys—“

“Stop talking, you’re confusing them,” I reprimanded him. “Look girls.” I pulled them toward me. “You can have a girlfriend or boyfriend but only when you’re old enough, okay?” I said and they slowly nodded. “For now… why don’t you share my husband with me?” I smiled and they clapped their hands together.

“Does that mean we get ice cream whenever we want too?” Athena excitedly asked.

“Yeah—and can we get carried around every day too?” Arabella smiled. “And get a car?”

“And shiny jewellery!” Athena exclaimed, her eyes sparkling.

“Candy!” Ilaria yelled out before clamming her mouth shut again.

“Of course.” I chuckled. “He’ll even take us out to do our hair and nails, take us shopping, go on vacations, buy the latest baby dolls including their entire wardrobe.” I whispered and the girls got excited. “You don’t mind, right?” I mischievously grinned up at him and he crossed his arms over his chest.

“You’d do that?” Arabella asked in excitement.