“We work at our marriage all the time. We talk about everything. We communicate constantly. We take time to reconnect regularly. I can honestly say that I love my husband more today than I did the day we wed, which I think is what you’re supposed to do. Marriageisn’tthe final step in life. You haven’t reached boss level and just stay in wedded bliss forevermore. It takes a lot more effort to maintain a happy life and remain in love once married than it did beforehand.”
“You think that’s why the divorce rate is so high? People give up?”
Alka huffs. “Believe you me, I havea lotof opinions on why the divorce rate is so high. That’s a conversation for another day.”
I chuckle.
“How about kids?”
“I don’t have any if that’s what you’re asking.” I smirk.
Alka huffs. “I’m still waiting for the day when evolution catches up and allows men to get pregnant.”
“Oh god no. Ido notwant to have that ability.”
He laughs again. “Why not?”
“Are you kidding? I have a sister, and I know what she’s gone through her entire life—periods that are so painful she’d curl up on the bed and cry every month. She went to countless doctors to figure out why they were so painful only to find out that she gets cysts on her ovaries. In the most painful months, those are the times they burst.”
Alka makes a face. “Yeesh.”
“Yep. Then there’s the different kinds of birth control. She went through them all, and they changed her hormones and mood so drastically it was like night and day. Absolutely terrifying. Then there’s pregnancy itself. I was six when she had her first kid, and I remember how miserable she was the bigger she got. How uncomfortable. How she hated her body and how people treated her.Thenthere’s birth, and maybe I overheard her recapping theentire fucking thingover the phone one day. Yeah, I’m good. Women can keep that.”
He's still amused as he watches me. “When you put itthatway.”
“I get it. New life is a miracle.” I roll my eyes. “Honestly, the science behind it is pretty interesting. I recently read an article about new studies in conception. Did you know that eggs put out a ‘scent’ or whatever that attracts certain kinds of sperm and repels others? That’s why some couples can’t conceive. They’re literally not compatible on a biological level.”
“I didn’t know that.”
I nod. “Yeah. It’s pretty cool. Then there’s the idea that a bundle of cells literally transforms into a person. Identical cells turn on different combinations of genes or whatever, andsuddenly, that’s a hair cell. That’s a liver cell. That’s going to be a toenail. Bundles of cells that aren’t all that genetically different from the cells of a leaf turn into a human being!”
“I think you’re passionate about science,” Alka says. “Biology specifically.”
I hum, shrugging. “I don’t know. I find it fascinating, but I don’t want to be involved in babies coming into this world at any stage, thanks.”
“So does that mean you don’t want kids?”
“Oh no. I just mean I don’t want to be part of the process of them being built. Like… no sex with women. No carrying babies. No watching babies come into this world. I want science to remain as it is. But yes, I want kids. Like eight.”
Alka’s eyes widen, and I laugh. “Okay, more realistically, maybe four or five.”
“Why so many?”
“I don’t know. I love my relationship with my brother, and I always imagined that if we had more siblings between us, we’d have a really close, big family. I think more people should have brothers like I have, maybe even more than one, so when one little brother keeps calling with maydays and favors, it’s not all put on the same brother.”
Alka laughs. “Yeah?”
I grin. “That was a little transparent, huh?”
“Not at all. I have no idea who you’re referring to.”
“I guess I just want a big family. I’m close with my brother but not my sister. I’m not…notclose with my parents, but I’m also not close with them like I am Lix. Maybe I think I can have it all ways when I’m a parent. Maybe I just need multiple tries, so I’ll get it right eventually.”
He laughs again. “Jesus, Ruby.”
I grin. “Do you want kids?”
Alka nods. “Yes. We’ve been talking about having kids recently. I told you that the day we met. But we’re only talking two or three. Not eight. That seems like a lot of work.”
