“Shit!”
Ash laughed as a shower of popcorn rained down on us.
“Note to self. Don’t hold the snacks while watching the scary movie,” I muttered as I brushed kernels out of my hair.
“Probably some good advice.” Ash flicked one off his chest and in my direction.
“Want me to pause it so you can clean up?”
“Oh, really?” He grinned. “I’m cleaning up your mess now. Is that right?”
“Well, duh. I mean, it’syourbed.”
“But it’syourmess.”
“Holy fucking shit!”
I buried my face in his chest and wrapped my arms around his middle. And all he did was laugh.
“How many more jump scares are there?” I asked into his chest.
“In the whole movie? Tons.”
“I’m so regretting this.” I shuddered and cracked one eye open so I could see the screen.
“Don’t worry, kitten. I’ll protect you.” As if to confirm it, he made a big show of wrapping his arms around me and hugging me tight.
“My hero,” I muttered.
I spent the next hour and however many minutes snuggled in Ash’s arms as we watched the scariest movie I’d ever seen in my life.
Even Ash screamed a few times, although he laughed after like it had been the most fun thing ever.
“You survive?” he asked when the closing credits rolled.
“Not sure.” I shifted so we were chest-to-chest, and I could bury my face in his neck. “Can a twenty-one-year-old die of a heart attack?”
“Not from a scary movie.” He brushed his lips against my forehead. “You really are part cat. How are you sitting like that without your back screaming at you?”
I was twisted into a pretzel, trying to hug him while still sitting beside him.
“I’m too busy worrying about my heart to notice my back. I’m sure that pain will set in soon.”
“Come here, scaredy-cat.”
He gripped my hips and swung me onto his lap so I was straddling him.
“These cat puns are getting old,” I grumbled and tucked my head under his chin and breathed him in.
“You’re just salty because I’m way funnier than you thought.”
“That’s not completely false.” I smiled into his skin. “But I’m sure you can say the same thing about me.”
“I can.” He held me tight, the pressure of his arms around me soothing my racing heart.
The movie was still playing in the background, the creepy music from the credits floating toward us.
“Can you turn that off? Even the music is stressing me out.”