asked if they could order pizza. I told them we'd talk about it when I was off work, and that there were snacks in the fridge to hold them over.
Next, Ian called, asking if I knew I had company. Apparently, Lane thought someone was murdering my daughter because of the screams. Thankfully, the giggles tipped him off before he broke down the door. I realized I'd have that to look forward to all night, and may have groaned into the phone.
"Need backup?" he asked.
"Yes!" I begged. "I get out of here in an hour, I might have a single glass of wine left in the bottle - I'm not even sure there's that much - and they will be squealing all night long!"
"Mm," he purred on the other end. "So I should go get my girlfriend a few bottles, maybe some hard liquor, and plan to spend most of the night, huh? I mean, in the movie marathon kind of way?"
"Ian, you're my hero," I told him.
He chuckled. "So, how many girls are we talking, here? Is there a pack of them, or just like one extra?"
"It's Samantha."
"Huh." He paused. "Because I'm pretty sure I saw Olivia, too."
I sighed. "Then it's entirely possible there's a pack of feral girl-children on my second floor."
"I'll bring the whole crew. We doing chick flicks, action, or superheroes?"
"Black Panther?" I asked.
"Your wish," he promised, "is our command. I'll pick you up at the office, but I'm parking in your drive for the night."
"I don't even care," I promised. "I'm just glad I won't have to do this alone, but you have no idea what you just agreed to."
He laughed again. "In case you forgot, I have not just one, but two sisters. Both older. I have a good idea. I'll see you in forty-five minutes, and Lane's making sure they don't burn the house down."
Ashley peeked her head around the corner. "Did I hear you say Olivia?"
"Yeah, seems like there's a gaggle of girls at my place."
"Need help?" she offered.
I just shook my head. "The guys beat you to it. Just enjoy sleeping tonight for me, ok?"
"Dunno, I might just go out for drinks, or something," she teased. "You know, adult fun."
I gave her a dirty look, but we both laughed. The chances of her actually going out, and me actually surviving tonight were pretty much zero. Still, even if she did have a date, that would be less stressful than what I had to look forward to. We were speculating about the horrors I was about to endure when Ian pulled into the parking lot.
Before he got out of his SUV, Ashley waved me away. "Go, I'll close up, and you have heathens to herd."
"Thanks. Good luck at the bar," I told her as I quickly gathered my things. "Text me if you need a rescue. I promise I'll be up."
"Oh, and you'll come in with teenage girls as weapons?" she teased.
I shook my head. "I'll send Pax and Lane." I waved and hurried out the door.
Ian had barely made it to the front of his truck, so changed directions, angling to open my door. "You're early?"
"Ashley said something about saving the house. I think she's going out tonight." I smiled as I slid into the passenger seat. "Most likely for a drink, but still. I wasn't about to talk her out of it."
He closed the door and hurried around to the other side. "Please don't. Even if she goes alone, at least she's finally trying."
I lifted a brow. "Oh? Because she keeps telling me she has the worst luck and hates dating."
He didn't answer until he was pulling into my drive a half-block away. "Years. Almost fourteen, I think." He looked over. "I'm worried about her."
"She's always made it sound like it's no big deal."
"Trust me, she's good at hiding things when she has to. This, she thinks, is one of those things she has to hide." Then he opened his door. "The guys should be here already."
They were, and the moment we walked in, I saw they were outnumbered. Maybe the math didn't work out, but three teen girls and four grown men? Not a fair fight. Lane and Pax had retreated to the kitchen. Trent had his hand pressed over his mouth as he stood at the