Ray Myers hauled the groceries up the complex’s tight stairway, followed by his pregnant girlfriend, Ryanne. She moved around him as he waited for her to unlock the door to their apartment. Their small Chihuahua, Frankie, noisily greeted them and danced around their feet as they made their way to the kitchen.

                Ray set the groceries on the counter; Ryanne quietly started putting stuff away. He leaned against the counter and stared at her.

                “I’m sorry,” he said.

                Ryanne ignored him and slammed a cupboard shut.

                “I was kidding,” he continued.

                She swung around, “you were not! If you didn’t have me stopping you, you’d do it! It’s borderline child abuse Ray!”

                “Okay, you’re being a little dramatic.”

                “Oh please! Xeon!? You would basically be signing your own child’s death warrant!”

                “I thought it would make him sound cool and tough. Kind of like a superhero.”

                “Well it doesn’t! Wait until your mother hears about this!”

                Ryanne swung around and continued to put groceries away. Frankie watched from under the table as Ray smiled at the back of her head.

                “How’re those hormones coming along?”

                Ryanne froze and braced herself against the counter. She turned around slowly, Ray tensed.