“C’mon. It was just a movie.” Mike tried to hide his smile.

“What if a nuclear catastrophe waits around the corner?”

“Then the bugs will be a hundred times bigger than they are now. Possibly even carnivorous.”

“Stop!” I hit him. “You’re only saying this because you know I’m afraid of bugs. That’s probably the whole reason you wanted to watch the movie in the first place!”

“Guilty,” he threw his arms up in mock surrender. “I was hoping you’d curl up for protection, not -” he burst out laughing.

“Shut up!”

“- not run away screaming only to return with 5 cans of Raid.”

“Well, what was your plan of protection?”

“They weren’t real. That’s what makes it a movie.”

“Stop being logical!”

“I wear big boots.”

“There were too many.”

“I’d find a way to keep you safe,” he smiled. I let him hug me. It was nice.

“Um, Abby?”

“What?”

“Do you have those cans of Raid?”

“Why, your big strong boots aren’t enough?” I mocked.

“No, I don’t think so.”

When I turned around, I screamed so loudly that glass broke.