Ben drags his free hand through his hair. “Jesus. She ditched you, didn’t she? And you’re covering for her?” He lets out a heavy sigh, shaking his head. “That girl is in so much trouble.”
“No,” I blurt out, squeezing his hand to get his attention. “That’s not what happened.”
He frowns at me. “Then what is happening, Ash?”
I exhale slowly. “She’s on a date.”
Ben’s eyebrows shoot up. “What?”
“She’s on a date,” I say again, more carefully this time. “I didn’t want her coming here alone to meet a guy she barely knows, so Ivy and I are here too, just in case she needs us. Don’t be mad at her. She was ready to cancel, and I talked her into going.”
The words spill out in a rush, and I hold my breath, searching his face for any sign of how he’s going to take it. When his expression softens and he smiles, I’m caught off guard.
“You’re looking out for Laney?” he asks, his tone somewhere between surprised and impressed.
I nod, returning his smile. “Of course. She met this guy online. We weren’t about to let her go without backup. We had to make sure he wasn’t some creep.”
Ben’s smile grows, and he shakes his head a little. “I don’t even know what to say.”
“You’re not mad?” I ask hesitantly.
He lifts his brows. “Well, you did completely overlook the fact that she’s grounded, especially after sneaking off to Prescott the other day,” he says, his voice trailing off as if he’s still weighing it all. My stomach twists a little, but then he glances at me again, softer this time. “But no, I’m not mad. How could I be? You gave up your Friday night to make sure she was safe.”
Before I can answer, Wyatt appears beside us, balancing a tray of drinks.
“Hey. I wasn’t sure what you and Ivy were drinking, so I grabbed vodka sodas,” he says, eyeing the nearly empty wine glasses. “I can go back and get wine if you’d rather?”
Ivy waves him off. “No need. Vodka sodas are perfect. Right, Ash?”
“Yeah,” I say with a smile. “I’ve probably hit my wine limit anyway. Thanks, Wyatt.”
He sets the tray down and hands out the drinks.
“Appreciate it, man,” Ben says, lifting his beer and taking a long drink. “So, where is she?” he asks, scanning the crowded room.
“She’s just around the corner, out of sight,” I explain. “We didn’t want to sit there staring at her all night. But she’s fine. She stopped by on her way back from the bathroom to give us an update.”
He nods, though I can see the wheels turning in his head. “What do you know about this guy?”
Before I can answer, I hear Wyatt ask Ivy, “What’s going on?”
I glance over to see her lean in close, murmuring something in his ear. He listens carefully then gives a slow nod as understanding settles in.
“Not a lot,” I admit, turning back to Ben. “He’s twenty-two–”
“Twenty-two?” he cuts in, his eyes widening. “Laney’s eighteen!”
I lift my brows. “Almost nineteen,” I remind him gently.
He gives me an exasperated look. “Whose side are you on?” There’s a trace of amusement in his voice, and I can’t help but smile.
“Four years isn’t that much, and it’s only a date. She’s not marrying him,” I tease.
He chuckles, shaking his head. “Okay. Fair point.”
“He’s a cop in Hope Creek,” I add.
Ben’s expression changes, his interest clearly piqued. “A cop?”
