Lily had already picked the movie by the time Leo finished dragging the air mattress into the sitting room, dropping the deflated shape onto the rug like a wrestling opponent she'd already beaten. The pump whirred to life, and the mattress inflated in fits and starts while Leo directed its shape with both hands, adjusting corners that didn't need adjusting.
Franz sat on the couch with Lexx cradled against one arm, bottle tipped at the angle Lexx preferred lately, watching the mattress take shape without offering to help. Nobody had asked him to. Somewhere in the last year, the twins had decided movie night setup belonged to them exclusively, and Franz had learned the difference between helping and interfering.
"Almost done," Leo announced, giving the mattress a final, unnecessary pat.
Arianne arrived a few minutes later carrying a tray with both hands, a bowl of popcorn wedged securely in the middle and three cups lined up beside it, each one fitted with a lid and a straw.
