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“At a bare minimum,” I reply with a grin.
The oven alarm chimes and Boone leans in for a fast kiss. “Let me check the chicken and start the green beans.”
He turns away and another wave of dizziness hits me, this one nothing but a surge of happiness that about buckles my legs.
CHAPTER 15
Boone
My love ofhorror movies started when I was twelve, which was coincidentally the yearParanormal Activityreleased in theaters. But that wasn’t the movie my brother Damien introduced me to when he was home for summer break after his freshman year of college.
He started me old school and we watchedThe Exorcist, much to my mother’s irritation when I woke her up at three a.m. after I had a horrible nightmare. She yelled at Damien that I was too young, but I kept asking for more. At first, I loved the adrenaline rush of frights and suspense, but then I got into the artistic creation and nuances. I even took to writing reviews and posting them on my social media.
While not my first scary movie, I ended up watchingParanormal Activitythat same summer with Damien and I’ve seen it a few times since. I know exactly the moments that are going to freak Lilly out. It is my utmost hope that she will be snuggling in tighter during those scenes.
She’s waiting for me on the couch as I bring in bottles of water from the kitchen. I love that she’s kicked off her shoes and has her legs tucked under her. I put the drinks on the coffee table and settle in, grabbing the remote control from the side table. It takes me a few moments to log into my on-demand system and start the movie. When I return the remote, I reach over and turn off the lamp, plunging the living room into darkness, save for the blue light from the TV.
“And… I’m already scared,” Lilly says.
I lift my arm. “Get closer then.”
She moves quickly, settling in against my ribs. I toe off my tennis shoes and kick my feet up on the table. Leaning over, I place my lips against the top of her head. “Feel free to grab on to me when you need to.”
Lilly chuckles, glancing at me. “Bet you’d love that.”
“You would too,” I reply.
I spend the next hour and twenty minutes paying attention to Lilly instead of the movie. I listen to the changes in her breathing and the way her body tightens when it gets suspenseful. Her fingers clutch into my sweater over my abdomen and yeah… there are plenty of moments when her face presses into my chest as she avoids watching the scariest moments.
Near the end, when it gets to the part of the movie when Katie stands at the side of the bed watching over Micah, I can’t help but laugh. Lilly shudders over the creepiness.
“I first watched this movie when I was twelve with my brother, Damien. And that night after I fell asleep, he came into my room and stood by my bed. He made some sort of noise to wake me up and I was all groggy. I saw him standing there and I freaked out. Screamed the house down and boy, were my parents pissed.”
Lilly giggles. “That was rotten of him.”
“In hindsight, I can say it was epic.”
I pull her in closer and Lilly manages to keep her eyes open until the end, although as soon as the credits roll, she says, “Can you turn the lamp on?”
Leaning over, I turn the knob and the room is cast in a soft glow. Twisting her way, I ask, “You okay?”
“That was really, really scary,” she breathes out with a nervous laugh.
“You closed your eyes for half the movie,” I point out.
Lilly grimaces as she shudders. “I could still hear the screaming. I mean… why do people watch that stuff? It’s terrifying, and now I’ll be expecting something to pull me out of bed tonight.”
“I mean no offense by this,” I say with a slight smirk, “but you chose the movie.”
“I know!” She throws her arms up as if surprised by herself. “Why didn’t you stop me? Why didn’t you tell me it was a stupid idea to prove I’m fearless by watching a scary movie?”
“You did this to prove you are fearless?” I ask, angling my body to face her. “But why? You’re one of the most fearless people I know.”
Lilly blinks at me. “No, I’m not.”
“Uh… yeah, you are,” I toss back.
She shakes her head in denial. “Pretty sure I’m going to sleep at the hospital tonight with Aiden because I’m too scared to be in my apartment.”
