Page 149 of Corpse Roads

An hour later, I’m laughing so hard, I think I’ll pee myself. Who knew that a pair of house robbers could almost die so many times, in so many creative ways? Cringy is definitely the right word, but I secretly love it.

“Home Alone? Seriously?” Hunter interrupts.

He walks into the den, carrying armfuls of snacks as he frowns at the TV. Leighton whoops in excitement, spreading his arms to receive the food.

“Harlow hadn’t seen it.”

“So you figured you’d torture her with this shit, huh?” Hunter slumps onto the sofa, opening a bag of peanuts.

“Shut up, you loved it when you were younger,” Leighton bickers.

“I was a kid.”

“Your point being? We’re starting with the best.”

“Home Alone isn’t the best Christmas movie.” Hunter stretches his legs out. “It’s over-commercialised and pure fantasy. Nobody survives a brick to the head.”

“You take that back.” Leighton steals the bag of peanuts from his hands and adds it to his pile of food. “Home Alone is awesome.”

“Want me to hit you in the face with a brick to check? I’m more than willing to perform an experiment. Give me those back.”

“Only if I can return the favour, big bro. And no, they’re mine now. You’ll have to earn them.”

While the brothers agree to arm wrestle for the bag of peanuts, the front door slams shut. Enzo’s standing in the entrance, breathing hard and sweating. He gives me a wave before disappearing to shower.

Snuggling into Leighton’s side, I open my mouth for him to put a chocolate-covered pretzel inside. Hunter munches on his peanuts triumphantly, the pair exchanging sour barbs.

When Enzo comes back, he’s dressed down in sweats and a muscle tee, his black hair like spilled ink against his skin. Dislodging Lucky, he sits down next to me and slings an arm over the back of the sofa to ensconce me in his body heat.

“Hey there, little one.”

I smile up at him. “Hi, Enz. Good run?”

“Cold. The roads are icy. Nearly broke an ankle a few times.”

“You need to be careful out there.”

The secret smile he shoots me makes my heart stutter.

“Are you worried about me, Harlow?”

I look back at the TV, stealing another handful of pretzels to busy my hands. “Nope. Not at all.”

“Ouch.”

We watch the movie, sharing snacks and laughing as the robbers return for round two. They still get their asses handed to them, and some imaginative use of swinging paint cans later, our second movie is done.

“It’s A Wonderful Life next,” Hunter declares, snatching the remote from Leighton. “Now that’s a real Christmas movie.”

“It’s so depressing,” Leighton groans.

“I’m counting on you going into a diabetic coma pretty soon, based on how much sugary crap you just ate.”

He rubs his belly. “That was just a starter. We should totally order pizza. I’m still hungry.”

Before we can start Hunter’s movie, the security system in the entrance way beeps before the door clicks open. Excitement prickles across my skin as Theo calls out.

“Am I late?”

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