Knotted in Love

Part 13

“How long are you going to stay?”

Alice asks Haseena who throws herself down on the couch with a Nintendo Switch in her hand. She knows about their little separation and she also knows that it has been exactly two weeks now. Haseena needs to pack and go already but somehow, she is still here and she acts like she is going to stay forever.

“Why?” Haseena answers with a question as she makes herself comfortable by throwing a cushion away on the armchair.

“You have your own place.” Alice moves the cushion and sits cross-legged on the armchair. She is frustrated and Haseena doesn’t understand why. They had lived together before and that didn’t bother Alice. “You know? The place where your wife lives.”

“Alice.” Haseena says her name with a serious tone. It is so serious that Alice is spooked and too afraid to look her way. “What are you hiding?”

Alice springs up from the armchair with her wide eyes. Haseena’s ability of secretly knowing everything comes and haunts her. It is sometimes scarier than a ghost. “I am not.”

Haseena smirks and chuckles so devilishly. “Is he coming? Are you going to have sex on the couch? I can go into my room.”

“I don’t like you.” Alice throws the cushion at Haseena.

“You only have me and Kevin. Choose wisely. I may have a wife but Kevin starts to smell like poop.” Haseena is about to throw the cushion back to commence the cushion war but the unannounced visitor unintentionally becomes a diplomat.

Kevin barges in with baby Kara in the baby carrier attached in front of him. In his hand, there is a bag that is full of diapers and feeding bottles. Fatherhood has taken over him.

“Lady, lady.” Kevin looks at Haseena, Alice and then Kara with the warmest eyes and adoring embrace. “And lady.”

“Kara!” Alice and Haseena harmonize with a smile on their face. This baby has taken everyone’s hearts and she hasn’t been able to realize it yet.

“You’re babysitting Kara.” Kevin puts the pastel bag down and rocks Kara a bit. He looks at the fridge and dreams about a nice cold beer. “Do you have a beer in there?”

“No.” Haseena answers as she lets Kara use her little hand grabbing her finger. “Alice just drinks at some guy’s house now.”

“Whose house?” Kevin asks and immediately turns to face Alice who is already right next to him; glaring at Haseena. “Why don’t you say you’re dating someone?”

“I... Wh.. Where are you going?” Alice’s attempt in changing the topic is easily successful when the cutest distraction is in front of them.

“Nowhere.” Kevin sits on the counter stool and looks around for something to snack on. “For me, it’s called ‘raising’. For you, it’s called ‘babysitting’.”

“Will we get paid?” Haseena sits at the stool next to him and plays peekaboo with Kara.

Kevin grasps dramatically and closes Kara’s tiny ears. “That was a horrible thing to say, dude. You need to be paid to love and care for my daughter? That is unbelievable.”

“I can’t believe you, Haseena.” Alice plays along and takes this chance to beat her up on the arms. “Kara is going to remember this for the rest of her life now.”

“For sure.”

“F...” Haseena is about to curse but holds back in time. She shouldn’t curse in front of a small baby; especially a baby that means as much to her as Harry. “I don’t like neither of you.”