As they shared a laugh, Maya leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to Carina's lips. Just as they were savoring the sweet moment, they heard the sound of little footsteps running back toward them. Alex came skidding into the room, hands on his hips, giving them an exaggerated, playful eye roll.
"You guys are kissing again," he said, scrunching up his nose with a mixture of amusement and mock exasperation.
Maya grinned, reaching over to ruffle his hair. "That's right, buddy. Sometimes grown-ups kiss because they love each other," she explained, giving him a little wink.
Carina chuckled, bending down to his level. "Is it okay if we kiss sometimes?" she teased, smiling warmly at him.
Alex thought about it for a moment, then shrugged. "I guess," he said, clearly trying to act nonchalant. "As long as you don't forget about the party!"
Maya laughed, scooping him up into her arms and spinning him around, making him giggle. "Don't worry, Superman," she said, setting him down gently. "We could never forget about the party. Especially with you here to remind us."
Alex beamed, clearly pleased, and ran off again, this time humming to himself as he headed toward his toys.
Maya wrapped her arm around Carina's shoulders, pulling her close. "Well, I think we got his approval," she whispered with a grin.
Carina laughed softly, leaning her head against Maya's shoulder. "Good thing. Because I plan to keep kissing you as much as I want."
— — —
After picking Alex up from school, Carina agreed to make a quick stop at the store to find a gift for Lance's birthday. Alex's face lit up as they walked through the toy aisles, his eyes widening as he spotted different toys he liked. He darted from shelf to shelf, pointing at action figures, trucks, and stuffed animals.
"Mamma, look! This one's so cool! Can we get it?" he asked, holding up a big, brightly colored dinosaur. Before Carina could answer, he spotted something else. "Ooh, and this! I love this car! Can we get it?"
Carina gently put a hand on his shoulder, kneeling down to his level. "Alex, remember, we're here to pick out a present for Lance, not for us."
Alex's face fell, and his bottom lip started to tremble. "But Mamma... I really, really want it," he murmured, his voice wobbling as he tried to hold back tears.
Carina wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close as she rubbed his back soothingly. "I know, sweetheart, I know. It's hard not to want all these new toys," she said gently. "But remember, you just had a birthday, and you got so many wonderful new toys to play with."
Alex sniffled, rubbing his eyes as he looked down at his shoes. "I know... but they're so cool."
Carina smiled, giving him a gentle squeeze. "How about this," she suggested softly, "we look for something really cool for Lance, like a dinosaur or a truck? Something you think he'd really like, just like the toys you got for your birthday."
Alex thought about it, his face slowly brightening as he considered the idea. "Okay," he agreed, glancing up at her with a small smile. "Maybe a dinosaur truck?"
Carina laughed, standing up and taking his hand as they continued down the aisle. After a bit of searching, Alex's eyes lit up when he spotted the perfect gift—a monster truck with a dinosaur theme, complete with big wheels and a T-Rex design on the sides.
"This one, Mamma!" he said excitedly, pointing to it. "Lance will love it!"
Carina smiled, relieved to see his excitement shift to thinking about his friend. "Great choice, tesoro. Let's get it wrapped up, and we'll be all set for the party."