The guys were halfway through another round of drinks when Aaron's phone finally lit up. He didn't even try to hide how fast he grabbed it.
Ken saw it first and smirked. "If that's not your 'princess,' I'll delete all my contacts."
Aaron's glare was immediate. "Shut up."
But his voice came out too soft, too hopeful. The second he saw 'Princesa' flash across the screen, every ounce of his composure vanished. He stood up, walked away from the laughter, and pressed accept.
"Princesa," he said, low and warm.
Mina's laugh came through the line, light and teasing. "Seven hours. You lasted seven whole hours before breaking."
He closed his eyes, already smiling. "You noticed."
"Oh, I did," she said. "Naarah timed it. She said, 'Bet he'll cave before midnight.'"
Aaron sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Remind me to ban her from the wedding."
In the background, he could hear Ellie's sleepy babble, followed by a faint cheer from the girls. Mina giggled. "You should've seen your daughter tonight. She tried to dip her cupcake in my drink."
He smiled into the darkness. "Smart girl. Knows what she wants."
"She gets that from me."
"Obviously."
From across the room, Ken's voice carried: "Tell her you're crying, Romeo!"
Aaron groaned. "Ignore him. He's drunk."
Mina laughed so hard the sound fizzed through the phone. "Oh, I can imagine. Tell Ken I said hi."
Aaron turned, glaring at Ken, who immediately cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled, "HEY MINA, YOUR MAN IS WHIPPED!"
"Ken," Aaron said warningly.
"I mean—deeply in love!" Ken amended between snickers. "Totally, healthily obsessed!"
Mina was practically wheezing with laughter now. "Oh my God, I love this. You should have him at the wedding just for commentary."
Aaron sighed, half-smiling. "I already regret introducing you two."
Mina's tone softened. "You miss me that much?"
Aaron's reply came without hesitation, quiet but certain. "More than I can explain. I can't wait to be inside you, babe."
There was a pause. Mina bit her lower lip, and a soft groan left her lips. Then, softly: "I miss you too."
" Are you guys having phone sex? Really people." Aaron chuckled as he heard his cousin's voice.
He wished he were phone sexing. He adjusted himself on the sofa as his pants became uncomfortable.
That simple groan from her lips hit him harder than any toast, any drink, any laughter in the room.
Ken groaned theatrically. "Great. Now they're doing it again. I'm gonna hurl."
Aaron smirked, eyes still on the floor. "Goodnight, princesa. Kiss Ellie for me."
"Only if you survive Ken," she teased.
The call ended, and Aaron pocketed the phone, the ghost of her voice still hanging in the air.
Ken tossed him a beer. "You're ridiculous, man. But I'll admit—if love looks like that? Maybe it's not so bad."
Aaron's smile lingered, small and unguarded. "It's not bad at all," he said quietly.
For the first time that night, Ken didn't have a comeback—just a grin that said he knew his friend was exactly where he was meant to be.