Serena lounges on my bed, sipping wine like she’s at a five-star spa instead of my boss’ home. “If Krista tries you tonight, you better channel your inner Rihanna and drag that hoe with grace.”

Kiera snorts, tossing me a pair of earrings. “No, screw grace. I say we take her ass out in the parking lot. We gotta channel freshman year at Clark.”

I sigh dramatically. “Y’all are acting like I’m preparing for war, not dinner.”

Serena levels me with a deadpan stare. “Sis, you’re in the thick of battle. That conniving, lying heffer challenged you to a duel, and now you have to defend your honor. And Vic’s.”

Kiera nods. “Speaking of Vic, he owes you for this.”

“Yup, owes you some dick.” Serena smirks, swirling her wine.

The room erupts in laughter. I swat at her with a hairbrush. “Y’all are a mess,” I mutter, but I’m laughing, too.

Once they finish hyping me up, we all head into the front room, where the men—Vic, Hudson, Gabe, and Hawkins are waiting.

And it’s chaos. A full-on madhouse. Ari, Syd, Izzy, and Kiera’s little ones are running wild, chasing each other around the room like they’ve lost all their home training. A shoe even flies across the air, barely missing Hudson’s head.

“You see why I sip whiskey every night?” Vic mutters, scanning the room like he’s calculating just how much damage control is needed.

I sigh, already sensing where his mind is going.

“Leaving six kids with them is a bad idea.” He worries. “Izzy and Gabe are head down working while Hawkins and Kiera can barely keep their eyes open. And look at Hudson and Serena! They’re barely responsible and can’t stop touching each other.”

“Hey! We’re kind of responsible, and it’s your brother who can’t keep his hands to himself,” Serena cuts in.

I fold my arms, exchanging a worried glance with Vic. “You’re right. Maybe we should stay home? I’d feel so much better if Vicky or my parents were here.”

Our friends groan in unison.

“Y’all act like an old married couple already,” Izzy scoffs. “It’s one dinner. The kids will survive. Maybe.” She grins.

Our friends are great parents…but they’re also the no-structure, dirty-walls, toys-everywhere kind of parents. Thankfully, as if summoned by divine intervention, the front door swings open, and Vicky and my parents walk in.

My jaw drops, and my worries vanish. “I was literally just praying for y’all to show up!”

“Well, you know we hate last-minute plans, but when we heard Serena, Kiera, and Iz were gonna watch all the kids, we got worried. So, the reinforcements are here.” My mom smirks.

Ari and Syd shriek in delight, abandoning their chaotic games to run straight into their arms.