The "apartment" was unusually loud that night — which meant only one thing: Keifer's
brothers were home.
"Jay!" Keiren's voice echoed from the living room before I even finished off my
homework . "Movie night! You're watching with us, right?"
I tried not to laugh. "Do I ever have a choice?"
Keigen poked his head out from the kitchen, carrying a ridiculous amount of snacks —
popcorn, chips, and an entire box of cookies balanced on one arm. "We don't start
until you sit down," he announced.
Keifer sighed from behind me. "You two act like she's the star of the show."
"She is!" Keiren said immediately. "You're just the grumpy bodyguard."
I burst out laughing as Keifer grabbed a pillow and lightly tossed it at his brother.
"Keep talking, kid."
By the time we settled on the couch, the room was a blanket-and-food battlefield.
Keiren claimed the middle spot, Keigen sprawled on the floor with the popcorn bowl,
and Keifer sat beside me, remote in hand.
"What are we watching?" I asked, already fishing a cookie from the box.
Keiren smirked. "A comedy. No crying this time, promise Jay?."
Keigen pointed his spoon toward me. "Last time, you cried over a dog commercial."
"Excuse me," I said, clutching my chest dramatically, "the dog found his owner again —
that's emotional damage!"
Even Keifer cracked up, shaking his head. "She's hopeless."
The movie started, but no one was paying attention after fifteen minutes. Keigen was trying to toss popcorn into Keiren's mouth, Keiren was giving commentary louder than the movie itself, and I was laughing so hard my stomach hurt.
Keifer leaned closer and muttered, "You sure you don't regret moving in here?"
I looked around — at the laughter, the warmth, and the smell of buttered popcorn
filling the air. "Not even a little," I said, smiling.
For one perfect moment, everything — even the danger outside — felt far away.