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Trying to watch a movie with four grown men turned out to be a more difficult challenge than you ever thought it would be. You sat back and watched the four of them argue over what we were going to watch. Will wanted First Blood, Santi wanted The Expendables, Frankie wanted Lone Survivor, and Benny wanted Sand Castle. You knew in the end the final decision was up to you. When their heads all turn to you, you knew it was time to make a decision. Before any of them could ask you what you wanted to watch you blurt The Expendables. Santi lets out an excited holler and pushes Will’s shoulder.
“I told you they’d pick The Expendables!” His excitement is contagious and you let out a laugh shaking your head.
“It was not an easy choice Santi, they were all great choices.” You tell him, your smile growing wider.
He nods his head and dips down to grab your dvd from its respective place on the shelf and pops it into the player. All of them scramble around like ants trying to find the perfect place to sit. Benny ends up sprawled out over the lounge chair, his long legs hanging over the edge. Santi plops down next to you on the couch and steals your blanket. Will settles down on the other side of you with a bowl of popcorn in his hands. You stare at him for a moment, when did he go do that? Frankie sits on the floor at your feet and props his arm up on your knee. You knew he wouldn’t be comfortable down there for long, eventually you would go and grab him a chair.
The movie starts and the five of you zone in on what’s happening. You had seen the movie several times, but it was still good each time. It brought you a sense of joy that you only got from specific movies.
“Oh fuck me!” You all turn your heads to Benny who sits up in the chair.
He looked exasperated, his hands pushing into his hair in frustration.
“What?” Will asks, concerned for his brother.
“The guy I was supposed to fight just backed out. Now I don’t have a fight before Christmas to make some extra money.” His tone drops at the end.
“You can make money some other way Benny, it’ll all be okay. Don’t worry.” You tell him.
“Yeah man, maybe we can become strippers for the holidays or something.” Santi pipes in, you can hear the smile in his voice.
Benny’s eyes light up like he was suddenly considering it.
“Yeah no, I am not doing that shit.” Will says, making you cackle.
You see the edges of Will’s lips turn upward.
“Oh come on! The girls would love you Will!” Santi shouts.
You shake your head, you knew Santi was fighting a brick wall on that one. You look down at Frankie who sits quietly, unphased by Santi’s chaos.
“How about we bake stuff or something like that?” Frankie suggests, still immersed in the film.
“That’s actually a really good idea. And something we can all do without having to take our clothes off.” You tell them. They all let out laughs at that.
“Well, unless you wanted to, I guess. Maybe we will make more money.” You laugh once more.
Benny nods his head in agreement. After the movie ends the five of you begin planning your Christmas bake sale and stay up into the early hours of the morning. Laughing and being together and while enjoying each other's company.