“You’re way cranky pants,” Jude says, his tone amiable.

I grunt again.

“Oh no, my friend, we mustn’t dwell,” Jude recites dramatically. “No, not today. We can’t.” His hand splays on his chest. “Not on Begonia Day!” He bounces on the cushion again, making the milk slosh in my bowl. I give him the evil eye.

“Oh, this is the best part.” He smacks me on the shoulder, making my spoon jump and cereal fall in my lap. “Matthew McConaughey is the man.”

On the screen, the actor is navigating a sailboat on the open water and flirting with a blonde. “If you say so.”

“I do say so. Any man who plays the bongos naked is someone I can relate to.”

I finish my breakfast and we keep watching while Matt goes rock climbing with his buddies and inevitably talks about his love interest.

It’s not a bad flick, I guess.

Ten minutes later, Annabel comes waltzing into the living room, Beast behind her. I didn’t even hear anyone at the door. She stops in the doorway. “Are you guys seriously watching this?”

“Shhh, this is a good part,” Jude says.

She bursts into laughter and squeezes onto the couch between us.

“It was only a matter of time before you got sucked into these things.” Annabel turns to me and gestures at the screen. “It’s totally your kind of thing.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re a hopeless romantic. Plus it’s clear all men are naturally attracted to movies that subjugate women and make us look like pathetic losers who need a big strong man to take care of us.”

Jude interjects. “What if men need the women just as much as they need us? There’s nothing wrong with wanting companionship. Why does hopeless have to be combined with romantic? I would call it hopeful, rather. Wouldn’t you?”

Annabel snorts. “No. I would call it bullshit. All this happily ever after is a bunch of hogwash and you know it.”

“So, you’re a cynic.”

“I’m a realist.”

Jude leans back, resting one arm behind Annabel on the couch. “What’s wrong with believing in love?

“I believe in love, just not romantic love.”

“False. What about penguins?”

She frowns. “What about them?”

“They mate for life and bring each other an engagement pebble to show their love.”

“False.” She throws his word back at him. “All penguins gather pebbles to build their nest. It’s survival, not love. You shouldn’t believe every meme you read on the internet.” She flicks her fingers at the screen. “The truth is it’s all about procreation and has nothing to do with some kind of world-altering romance. That’s what they want you to believe.”

“Who are they?” I ask.

“The people who make Valentine’s Day candy and greeting cards and jewelry and flowers, the same people who make these movies and take your money, that’s who.”

“Those are legit businesses. Capitalist ventures I can get behind,” Jude says.

Annabel opens her mouth, probably to issue some kind of mouthy retort, but then Reese emerges from down the hallway, rubbing her eyes.