She shook her head immediately. "That's never going to happen, just like you refuse to try pineapple on pizza."
I couldn't argue with that. "Touche."
Just then we were called to collect our ice cream. With our cones in hand, we stepped back outside and began walking down the tree-lined street.
"So," I began after a few moments of companionable silence. "Tell me about what it was like growing up with your brother and sister."
Yasmin licked her ice cream thoughtfully, I had to look away to shake off the spicy thoughts that crowded my mind with just one lick. "It was chaotic. There's always something going on with three kids in the house. My sister, Amirah, was always getting into trouble, and my brother, Khalid, was an overachiever. I was in the middle, trying to find my own path."
She chuckled softly. "There were a lot of fights, a lot of laughter, and a lot of love. I can't imagine growing up any other way. What about you? What was it like being an only child?"
I took a deep breath, considering her question. "It was... different. I had all the attention from my parents, which was both a blessing and a curse. They had high expectations for me, and I felt a lot of pressure to meet them. It was also lonely at times. I didn't have anyone to share my experiences with, no siblings to confide in or fight with."
Yasmin nodded sympathetically. "That sounds tough. Did you ever wish you had siblings?"
"Sometimes," I admitted. "I always wondered what it would be like, but I also learned to be independent and self-reliant. It made me who I am today."
"That's true. I believe everything happens for a reason, who's to say having siblings would have been great for you?"
"You are right about that," I bit into a chunk of the ice cream, letting it melt into my mouth. "Either way it would be great if we had at least three kids."
"It would?" she paused, staring at me.
"Yeah," I continued, standing beside her. "I'd be happy with however many children you want to give me, but I think three is a good number."
"Do you?" she asked, a wide smile now on her lips. I blinked slowly, running through what I said, trying to figure out why she would be smiling so brightly.
"Yeah, why are you smiling?"
"I don't know," she shrugged. "It might be because you keep mentioning having kids with me."
"I do?"
She laughed. "You do, and you need to stop. There's no need to get my ovaries all worked up like this while we're on a sidewalk."
"I..." I wasn't sure what to say to that. "Should I wait until we're alone?"
She burst out laughing.
**********
As the sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting a golden glow over everything, we headed for the car. The drive home was filled with a comfortable silence, the kind that only came from spending quality time with someone you cared about.
"There's something I need to tell you."
She glanced at me with wide eyes, reaching up to run a hand through her hair. "I feel like you always have something to tell me. What is it this time?"
"Ah well, I might have already had our things moved into the house and we're headed there now."
"That's why we're on a different road," she chuckled. "I was beginning to think you were about to kidnap me."
"What?" I snorted. "If I wanted to kidnap you, I'd be a lot better at it than you think. Also, you're not mad that I had strangers pack your stuff?"
She shrugged. "Honestly, I'm relieved. I hate packing."
"That's good then," I glanced in her direction. "Glad I made things easy for you."
She nodded. "What would you have done if I didn't agree to move in with you?"