AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Plate in hand, I walked up onto my bed and Coop snagged my laptop so I could settle against the headboard. I scooted over close to him so there’d be room. When I patted the bed next to me, Jake gave me a droll look before he crossed over to sit.
“What movie are we watching?” He stretched his legs out. I kept mine crisscrossed and balanced my plate in the cradle as I leaned forward to unlock the screen and pull up Netflix again.
“We were trying to figure that out,” Coop said. “No…”
“Horror,” Jake finished with a roll of his eyes. “Never again. Anyone tries to make you watch horror again, I’ll save you the trouble and break their arms for you.” He rubbed my back gently, and I laughed.
“I did not break your arm.”
“No, but you damn sure tried.” The hand on my back sent goosebumps racing over my skin. Hardly the first time he’d ever touched me, but still… I focused on the screen. “So comedy or action?” They’d sooner drill their own teeth than watch a rom com. Okay, maybe that wasn’t fair, but I’d like to actuallyenjoythe romantic comedy rather than listen to their gagging and complaining.
“Action,” Coop and Jake said in one voice.
“Lemme see,” Jake said after he wiped his hands. I passed him the laptop and leaned back to start eating my chicken fingers. Coop had finished almost all of his food and he was eyeing mine.
I offered him one of the potato skins and he beamed. “You’re the best.”
“Don’t steal her food,” Jake muttered.
“You brought more.”
“Then ask for mine,” Jake said. “I dare you…what ‘bout this?” He turned the screen. I’d heard about the movie, but I hadn’t seen that one.
“No way,” Coop answered.
“It’s got kickass action.” Jake looked at me. “Trust me, it’s a thing of beauty. You’re going to love it.”
“Jake, man—they kill the dog.”
Oh. My heart fisted. “They kill the dog?”
“Yeah,” Coop said,staringat Jake. “Theykillthedog. Frankie can’t watch that.”
I really didn’t want to watch that.
“Yeah okay, it goes like this,” Jake said. “The guy’s wife dies, and he goes through the funeral and everything else, but he’s alone. He’s devastated. He’s lost his wife and his best friend. A delivery truck shows up and brings him this puppy. His wife apparently ordered the puppy to be delivered after her death because she knew he wouldn’t do well. It takes him some time, but he starts to bond with the puppy and they’re doing okay—then these assholes show up and they jump him. They steal his car and kill the dog.”
I can almost feel the tears in my eyes as the horror wells up. “That sounds like an awful movie.”
“Yeah, but he gets the assholes, that’s the point. He goes after the people who killed his dog and it’s—just trust me, Frankie. We’ll skip forward so you don’t have to see it, but I think you’re going to love it.” The pleading on Jake’s face urged me to agree, but…
A knock carried through the quiet, and my phone buzzed all at once.
“I’ll let him in,” Coop said, hopping up to go answer the door.
“Hey,” Jake said, nudging his finger under my chin. “I get it. You don’t like it when they hurt animals.”
No. I really didn’t.
“Even when it’s fake…”
“Yeah, but it’s not fake in the story, and that’s awful.”
He chortled, but he didn’t seem to be making fun of me. “I promise. It’ll be okay. You can hold my hand if you get scared.”
I eyed him. “Even if I might break your arm?”
“Even if…”
