After dinner movie

The kids and Alexis head off to their own rooms after dinner while Chad, Mark, and Cherie opt for a movie.

The transition from the dinner table to the living room feels like a strategic retreat for Chad, but for the others, it’s just a change of scenery for their burgeoning desires. You drift through the walls, settling into the ceiling fan of the living room to watch the "Order" of the house dissolve into a flickering, cinematic fever dream.

As they move toward the sectional sofa, Mark lingers behind Chad, closing the gap between himself and Cherie. As she reaches for a throw pillow, Mark leans down, his lips so close to her ear that the fine hairs on her neck stir.

"You know," he whispers, his voice a low, vibrating growl, "if your ghost ever needs a volunteer for that 'possession' theory... I've always been a team player, Cherie. I’d let him use me just to see the look on your face."

Cherie stumbles slightly, her hand gripping the back of the sofa and shoots him and incredulous glare. Before she can retort, Mark is already sitting down next to Chad, looking perfectly innocent. Cherie takes the far end of the sectional, her heart hammering against her ribs.

Chad settles in, clicking the remote. "Alright, 'Shadow Protocol.' It’s supposed to have the best practical effects of the year."