2030

EJ leaned back in his chair, looking thoughtful. "I grew up with five sisters, and if you've ever seen 'Last Man Standing,' it was a lot like that, but with more estrogen and less Tim Allen humor."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Grace is the oldest and the businesswoman. She's more like me than anyone else in the family. We've always had this unspoken bond, you know? We've always had each other's backs, whether it was sneaking out of the house late at night and going to parties, or when we had to make an elaborate lie to our parents about why my Dads prized Rosè was missing from the cabinet. Grace is basically more of my friend then my sister, but sometimes that's perfectly okay."

"Then there's Brooke, the 'favorite' of our parents, though they swear up and down that they love us all the same. Yeah, right. Brooke's a hotshot lawyer who had a kid before any of us, living the picturesque life in Long Island. She's always been the overachiever, and it seems to have paid off. I don't see her or your cousin Max much, though, because they're busy with their perfect lives. But hey, good for her. Just don't let her hear me call her the favorite – she'd never let me live it down."

𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗹 𝗶𝘀 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘁

———

"Rachel... now Rachel's a piece of work. She had just graduated college with a major in Environmental Science, and there, she got involved with this weird group in college, almost like a cult. Their whole thing was about saving the trees and vegan cheeses and instead of diving into a career, she became an activist. One time, she chained herself to a tree for 72 hours to protest deforestation. Only problem was, she was chained to the wrong tree. We laughed about that for weeks. 'Yeah, my parents were real proud of that one,' I say sarcastically. But in all seriousness, Rachel's got a big heart and she's doing what she believes in. Can't really fault her for that."

𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘁

---

"And then there's Jillian, or 'Jill' as we call her. If you thought Rachel was the black sheep, well, Jill is like the black sheep that wandered off and got lost somewhere along the way. Growing up, Jill was always the wild one. She had this rebellious streak a mile wide—think 'I'm gonna dye my hair purple and get a nose ring at 16' kind of rebellious. My parents tried to rein her in, but it was like trying to hold onto a tornado."

"I don't see Jill as often because she's currently in the Southside of Chicago, living in a tiny apartment with a view of a brick wall. It's not the life my parents envisioned for her, but it's the life she's picked for herself. I think she's fine with that."

𝗞𝗮𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗝𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘁

-—-

"And finally, there's Samantha, or Sam as we call her. She's the baby of the family and she went to Rutgers, in Jersey of all places. Damn Jersey. She's still trying to find herself, which is fair enough. We've all been there. She's got this bright spirit and a knack for getting into the most dumbest situations. We all keep an eye on her, but she's tough. She'll figure it out."

𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝗮𝗺 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘁

2005

EJ guided a stumbling Sam out of the club, his grip firm on her arm to keep her from falling. As they reached the sidewalk, EJ looked over at Ben.

"Benedict, keys," he called out, urgency in his voice.

Ben, though reluctant to let anyone drive his precious Cobra, tossed the keys to EJ. "You can't get her a ride or something?"

EJ caught the keys and shook his head. "Back to Jersey? No chance. I don't even feel comfortable going there myself."

Sam mumbled incoherently, her words lost in the haze of alcohol. Robin, who had followed them out, helped Sam toward the car. Sam glanced at Robin with bleary eyes, clearly not recognizing her.

"Who're you?" Sam slurred, trying to focus on Robin's face.

Robin chuckled, her tone light. "I'm Robin. Don't worry, I'm just here to make sure you don't puke in the car."

Sam giggled, seemingly amused by Robin's response. EJ opened the car door and gently guided Sam into the passenger seat. Robin climbed into the backseat, making sure Sam was settled.

As EJ got into the driver's seat, Ben yelled after them, his voice tinged with concern. "Don't scratch the paint, man! Seriously, be careful!"

EJ rolled his eyes, turning the key in the ignition. "Yeah, yeah, we'll be fine."

EJ glanced over at Sam in the passenger seat, who was now half asleep and mumbling drunkenly.

"Thanks for the invite, and for helping with... her," EJ said, nodding towards Sam. "But I'll take care of it now."

Robin leaned back in her seat, crossing her arms. "Yeah, no worries. Where are you dropping her off?"

EJ sighed, keeping his eyes on the road. "Rutgers. She's a freshman in college. I don't even think my parents know she's in the city."

Sam stirred, mumbling in her sleep before blurting out something unintelligible. Robin raised an eyebrow and quipped, "Did she just call me her new best friend?"

EJ chuckled again, shaking his head. "Wouldn't surprise me. She gets like this sometimes."

As they approached Robin's apartment, EJ pulled over to the curb. Robin unbuckled her seatbelt and turned to face him. She noticed a seriousness in EJ's eyes that contrasted with his usual playful demeanor.

"You're pretty protective of her, aren't you?" Robin asked casually, genuinely curious.

EJ nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "She's my baby sister. Of course I am."

Robin smiled warmly. "It's nice to see this side of you."

EJ grinned back. "Yeah, well, don't get used to it." He waved goodbye as Robin got out of the car.

Robin nodded in understanding. "Well, good luck with the rest of your night, EJ."

EJ waved goodbye as Robin exited the car and headed towards her building. Once she was safely inside, EJ turned his attention back to Sam, who had started to snore softly.

"Do Mom and Dad know you're in town?" EJ asked, glancing at Sam in the rearview mirror.

Sam stirred again, blinking slowly. "Huh? Nah, not a clue."

EJ sighed, pulling over to a convenience store. "Alright, I'm going to get you something. Don't try to sneak out on me."

As EJ stepped out of the car, Sam suddenly lurched forward and vomited into a plastic bag. EJ winced at the sight and smell.

"And that's why we can't have nice things," he muttered to himself, shaking his head.

Sam groaned, wiping her mouth with the napkins. EJ chuckled again, realizing the absurdity of the situation.

"Do I smell tequila?" EJ quipped as he got out of the car.

——

It was a typical October evening at McLaren's, where Marshall, Lily, Barney, Robin, and EJ gathered around a table, discussing their Halloween plans. Lily couldn't contain her excitement as she revealed the arrival of their costumes.

"Guess what came in the mail today?" Lily announced gleefully, sliding into her seat next to Marshall.

"Our costumes? Do they rule?" Marshall replied eagerly.

"They rule. And yours is 100% wool so you won't get hypothermia like last year," Lily assured him.

"Tarzan nipple blue," Marshall chuckled, remembering the mishap from a previous Halloween.

Barney, never one to miss a chance to inject his thoughts, chimed in about Halloween festivities. "You know what I love about Halloween? It's the one night of the year chicks use to unleash their inner ho-bag. If a girl dresses up as a witch, she's a slutty witch. If she's a cat, she's a slutty cat. If she's a nurse..."

EJ interjected, anticipating Barney's predictable punchline. "Let me guess, she's a slutty nurse?"

Barney grinned. "Exactly! And if she's a doctor..."

Lily interrupted, rolling her eyes. "Wow, we get it."

Barney persisted, undeterred. "She's a slutty doctor."

Changing the subject, Marshall turned to Robin. "What are you doing for Halloween?"

Robin hesitated briefly before responding, "Oh, I don't know. Probably hanging out with Mike, this guy I've been seeing."

EJ's curiosity piqued. "There's a Mike? Who's Mike?"

Lily jumped in, playfully teasing Robin. "You have a boyfriend? You haven't told us?"

Robin clarified, "No, I mean, he's not my boyfriend. He's just this guy I've been seeing for a couple of weeks."

Lily couldn't resist teasing further. "Boyfriend," she sang out.

Marshall, always the advocate for social gatherings, suggested, "How about a Halloween double-date?"

Robin hesitated, considering. "I don't know, we were kinda thinking about staying at home and dressing up as naked people."

Lily persisted, wanting to meet Robin's new interest. "Come on, Robin, trot out your new fella. Let us judge and evaluate him behind your back. It'll be fun."

Turning the conversation to EJ, Robin asked, "What are you doing for Halloween?"

"My family always hosts this Halloween party at their place in Brooklyn, so I'm going to stop by for a bit," EJ replied. "It's important this year because my Dad's retiring. He's a lieutenant police sergeant for the NYPD."

Marshall, intrigued by EJ's family dynamics, commented, "I like your dad. He's a good guy."

Barney, ever the irreverent one, couldn't resist a jest. "He must be quite the stud to procreate such attractive daughters."

EJ shot back with a smirk, "One is out of your league, one has a kid, one you can't handle, one can't have another bad influence, and one is too young for you. That makes you 0-5."

Barney laughed, unfazed by the ribbing. "Challenge accepted."

Changing the subject, Robin asked EJ, "Do your parents know about Sam?"

EJ sighed, a hint of concern in his voice. "I don't know honestly. My Dad would be pretty upset if he found out. 'Big lawman's daughter underage drinking,' it would be worse than Rachel when she tied herself to a chair in that one vegan place when they stopped serving her favorite cheese."

Just then, Ted approached their table, and Marshall eagerly greeted him. "Hey, Ted, you'll never guess what happened?"

Ted grinned knowingly. "Your costumes came."

"Our costumes... yes, that is why we're best friends," Marshall replied with a nod.

Robin turned to Ted with curiosity. "Hey, Ted, what are you doing for Halloween?"

"Well," Ted began, his expression a mix of nostalgia and hopefulness.

Marshall, Lily, EJ and Barney all chorused, "Awww."

Confused, Robin asked, "What?"

Lily explained with a knowing smile, "Every Halloween, Ted waits for the Slutty Pumpkin."

"That's right," Ted confirmed, a hint of wistfulness in his voice. "You mean, who is the Slutty Pumpkin? It was four years ago..."

——

Ted recounted his annual quest for the elusive Slutty Pumpkin with his usual mix of hope and nostalgia, as the group gathered at the bar, reminiscing about past Halloween adventures.

"I was at this Halloween party up on the roof of our building," Ted began, setting the stage for his tale. "I'm about to call it an early night when out of nowhere appeared this girl in the sexiest pumpkin costume."

Robin interjected with a teasing remark, "Wait, how can a pumpkin costume be sexy?"

EJ, ever quick with a quip, added mockingly, "It was carved in strategic places."

Ted continued, undeterred by the interruptions. "So, uh, we're at the bar and I see her mix Kahlua and root beer..."

Lily chimed in with enthusiasm, "A cocktail she invented herself."

Marshall, always supportive, added, "Called it the Tootsie Roll."

Barney and Lily, along with EJ and Marshall, simultaneously explained, "Because it tastes like an alcoholic Tootsie Roll."

Ted, regaining control of the story, asserted, "Hey, can I please tell this story? So we had this instant connection. She gave me her number, but then something..."

The group, anticipating his next line, echoed in unison, "Something went terribly wrong."

Ted sighed, acknowledging their skepticism. "Guys! Something went terribly wrong. Never found her number, never saw her again. But every year they have a Halloween party up on the roof so that's where I'll be."

Barney couldn't resist injecting some skepticism into the conversation. "You know, Ted, it's been four years. She could be engaged or married or, God forbid, fat."

Undeterred, Ted responded optimistically, "I don't know, I got a feeling. This could be the year. Halloween is a night of wonder and magic."

Lily, Marshall, EJ, and Barney groaned good-naturedly at Ted's persistence.

"OK, bring on the mockery. Fine, I can take it," Ted shrugged, accepting their teasing. "Come on, wouldn't it be the coolest story ever if the Slutty Pumpkin turned out to be my future wife?"

Lily, always practical, suggested, "Oh, on the off chance that that could happen, maybe we should stop calling her the Slutty Pumpkin."

EJ, Marshall, Barney, and Ted mumbled in agreement, each secretly hoping that Ted's Halloween wish would finally come true, even with how unlikely it would be.

——

EJ stood outside the door of his parents' luxurious penthouse, adjusting his aviator sunglasses and straightening his Iceman Kazanski costume. The penthouse was abuzz with activity, filled with family members dressed in a variety of costumes. Taking a deep breath, he stepped inside, the door closing softly behind him.

Almost immediately, he was intercepted by his three-year-old nephew, Max. The little boy looked up at EJ with wide eyes, his costume a chaotic mix of different superhero elements.

"Hey, buddy!" EJ crouched down to Max's level, ruffling his hair. "Who are you supposed to be?"

Max furrowed his brow in concentration, then declared proudly, "I'm Super Spider Batman!"

EJ laughed. "Super Spider Batman, huh? That's awesome, Max. You look great."

Max beamed, then ran off to join other children in the living room. EJ watched him go, smiling, before moving further into the penthouse.

As he entered the main living area, he spotted his sister Brooke. She was elegantly dressed as a 1920s flapper, a nod to her sophisticated style. Brooke was engaged in animated conversation with several family members, effortlessly doling out legal advice to one of their uncles.

"So, what you need to do is file the petition before the deadline, otherwise, you risk losing the entire claim," Brooke was saying, her voice confident and authoritative.

"Brooke," EJ called out, approaching her with a grin.

"EJ!" Brooke turned, her eyes lighting up. "Look at you, straight out of Top Gun. Very fitting."

"Thanks. You're looking pretty amazing yourself, Miss Legal Eagle."

Brooke laughed, giving him a quick hug. "Well, you know me. Always on duty, even at a party."

EJ nodded, appreciating the ease with which Brooke navigated the family dynamics. She was clearly the favorite, and it showed in how everyone gravitated toward her.

He moved on, weaving through the crowd until he found his sister Grace. Grace was with her new boyfriend, a tall, smug-looking guy named Josh. EJ had never liked him—too cocky by half—but tonight he decided to keep the peace. Grace, dressed as a witch, was glowing with happiness.

"Hey, Grace," EJ greeted, forcing a smile as he acknowledged Josh with a nod. "Josh."

"Hey, EJ! You look awesome," Grace exclaimed, hugging him tightly.

"Thanks, you too. Nice to see you, Josh," EJ added, keeping his tone neutral.

"Yeah, man. Top Gun, classic choice," Josh replied with a smirk, clearly impressed with himself. EJ resisted the urge to roll his eyes and moved on.

Finally, EJ made his way to his father, Captain Luke Bennett. Luke was a formidable presence even out of uniform, dressed tonight as a Roman general. His stern expression softened slightly as he saw his son approaching.

"EJ," Luke said, clasping EJ's shoulder. "You look good, son."

𝗧𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝗟𝘂𝗸𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘁

"Thanks, Dad. Happy retirement," EJ replied, feeling the weight of his father's expectations as always.

"Enjoying the party?" Luke asked, his tone formal as ever.

"Yeah, it's great. Everyone's having a good time."

Karen, their mother, appeared by Luke's side, dressed as a glamorous movie star from the golden age of Hollywood. She was all smiles, clearly enjoying the festive atmosphere.

𝗦𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗞𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘁

"There's my favorite son!" she exclaimed, pulling EJ into a warm hug. "You look fantastic, sweetie. But where's your date? You need to give your mother more grandchildren, like Max."

EJ laughed. "Working on it, Mom."

Just then, Sam sidled up, trying to look inconspicuous in her schoolgirl costume. She had been avoiding their father, knowing he wouldn't be pleased if he found out about her recent escapades.

"So, Samantha, how are your studies going?" Luke asked, his tone expectant.

"Uh, good, Dad. Really good," Sam said quickly, glancing nervously at EJ.

Karen leaned in, her eyes narrowing. "You sure? We haven't heard much about your grades lately."

Sam looked desperate to change the subject and blurted out, "EJ has a girlfriend!"

The room fell silent for a moment as everyone turned to look at EJ.

EJ's eyes widened in surprise. "What? No, I don't—"

"You mentioned Robin, remember?" Sam said, trying to steer the conversation away from her own issues. "That woman who helped me get to the car after... you know."

"Oh, Robin," Karen said, her interest piqued. "Tell us more about her, Elijah."

"She's just a friend," EJ said, trying to downplay it. "We've only known each other for a couple of months."

Karen looked slightly disappointed but pressed on. "What does she do?"

"She's a journalist actually, on Metro One News," EJ replied. "But she's just a friend I met a few months ago. Besides, Ted's been pining after her for a while."

"Mosby, huh?" Luke said, his tone thoughtful. "He's always had a good head on his shoulders. I heard Marshall and Lily got engaged. So, when are you going to settle down?"

"Dad, you know that life isn't for me right now; I'm in my late twenties. I want to have fun before I think about any of that."

Luke accepted this, but his expression remained stern. "You can't keep this up forever, son. You should be thinking about your future and settling down."

"I know, Dad. I will, just not yet."

Just then, Rachel arrived, dressed as a glamorous Cleopatra, making a grand entrance as always. Her arrival added another layer of energy to the gathering.

"Wasn't she the one who fell in horse crap?" Rachel asked, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Rachel!" Karen admonished.

"What? It happened!" Rachel insisted.

"Is she right?" Karen asked, turning to EJ.

"Yeah, it was kind of funny," EJ admitted with a chuckle.

Brooke, meanwhile, continued to hold court, now advising a cousin on a legal matter. "So, you really need to look into the fine print of that contract. It's where they hide all the important stuff."

"Thanks, Brooke," the cousin said, clearly grateful. "You're a lifesaver."

"Anytime," Brooke replied, her smile radiant.

EJ moved over to where Sam was talking with Grace and Josh. "So, how's school really going, Sam?"

"It's fine, EJ," Sam said, rolling her eyes. "Just a lot of work."

"Yeah, well, don't let Dad find out about the club thing," EJ warned, giving her a meaningful look.

"Don't worry, I won't," Sam promised, looking genuinely worried.

Rachel sauntered over, a glass of wine in hand. "So, EJ, what's the deal with Robin? Is she coming to any of our family gatherings?"

EJ laughed. "Not likely, Rachel. She's just a friend."

"Uh-huh," Rachel said, clearly not convinced.

——

The doorbell rang, and EJ went to open it, revealing Ben, who had decided to join the party despite his usual disdain for family functions.

"Ben!" EJ greeted with a wide grin. "I thought you were going to the Victoria's Secret Party with Barney."

"Hey, man. Nice digs," Ben said, looking around appreciatively. He was dressed as a mafia man, complete with a suit, tie, and a fake Tommy gun.

Karen and Luke exchanged a glance, clearly disapproving of Ben's presence. They had always thought Ben was a bad influence on EJ, but EJ still valued his friendship.

"Evening, Mrs. Bennett, Mr. Bennett," Ben said politely, though the tension in the room was palpable.

"Hello, Ben," Karen said, her smile tight.

Luke gave a curt nod. "Enjoy the party, Ben."

EJ led Ben into the main area, trying to keep the mood light. "Come on, go make some rounds."

As the evening progressed, EJ found himself talking with Grace. They were reminiscing about their childhood when suddenly, a commotion upstairs drew everyone's attention. Sam came storming down the stairs, tears streaming down her face. She brushed past EJ without a word, heading for the front door.

"Sam?" EJ called after her, but she was already gone.

Luke appeared at the top of the stairs, his face stern. "EJ, I need to talk to you. Now."

They walked to a small alcove where a monitor displayed security footage from a club. EJ's heart sank as he saw Sam, clearly intoxicated, stumbling with her friends. The footage continued, showing EJ and a woman—Robin—leading Sam back to a car.

"How did you get this?" EJ asked, his voice tight with concern and a hint of anger. "Are you spying on her?"

"One of my officers recognized Sam and sent me the footage," Luke explained, his tone stern. "EJ, why didn't you tell me about this?"

EJ clenched his jaw, struggling to find the right words. "I... I didn't want you to worry," he finally said, his voice barely above a whisper.

But clearly he was upset with his Dad's helicopter parenting.

Comes with having a cop as your Dad. A damn good one too.

Luke's gaze softened slightly, but his disappointment was evident. "EJ, I sacrificed so much to give you and your siblings the best opportunities. Now I find out Sam's been neglecting her studies, drinking underage..."

EJ interrupted, his own frustration rising. "Dad, she's young. She made a mistake, but she knows what she needs to do. She's trying to figure it out."

Luke sighed heavily, his gaze fixed on the footage. "Maybe she should come home. Maybe she's not ready for the independence of college."

"No, Dad," EJ insisted, shaking his head. "She needs to learn from this. I dropped out once, remember? You were disappointed then too, but look at me now. I made it work. Sam can too."

Luke looked torn, his brow furrowed with concern. "I just want what's best for all of you," he said quietly.

EJ nodded, his own emotions raw. "I know, Dad. But Sam needs to make her own choices."

With a heavy sigh, Luke nodded reluctantly. "Alright. Go back to the party. We'll talk more about this later."

EJ nodded gratefully, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders. He returned to the festivities, where Grace approached him with a concerned look.

"You good?" she asked softly.

EJ sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Dad's just being... Dad."

Grace nodded sympathetically, knowing all too well their father's strict nature.

After not seeing Sam for a few minutes and getting increasingly worried, EJ found her on the terrace, looking out at the city lights.

EJ sat quietly beside Sam on the terrace bench, the soft glow from the party illuminating their faces in the cool night air. Sam's tears had subsided, but her expression remained troubled.

"You know, Dad's just worried about you," EJ said gently, breaking the silence. "He wants what's best for all of us."

But Sam still remained quiet.

"Dad's an ass, we all know that," EJ remarked, trying to lighten the mood.

Sam let out a soft, humorless chuckle. "I know. I just wish he'd let me live a little. I don't even know if I can trust that he won't helicopter parent me forever."

EJ raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in his eye. "Well, you did give him quite the scare. He's probably going to be checking in on you every five minutes, and he's retiring, so that's going to be a lot worse for you."

Sam sighed, playing with the hem of her costume. "I know, but I hate disappointing him. And Mom too."

EJ draped an arm around her shoulders, offering comfort. "You're not a disappointment, Sam. We all mess up sometimes. It's part of growing up."

"Yeah, but this was stupid," Sam murmured, her voice tinged with regret.

EJ squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. "You made a mistake, but you'll learn from it. That's what matters."

They sat in companionable silence for a moment before EJ spoke again. "You want to talk about what happened?"

Sam shrugged, her gaze fixed on the distant lights of the city. "We were just out celebrating a friend's birthday. I didn't think Dad's officer would recognize me."

EJ nodded understandingly. "It happens, Sam. But you can't hide from Dad forever. You need to talk to him."

"I know," Sam admitted quietly. "I just... I don't want him to be disappointed."

"He will be," EJ acknowledged, "but he loves you. He wants to help."

Sam leaned into her brother's embrace, taking solace in his support. "Thanks, EJ."

EJ smiled, trying to lighten the mood. "You hungry? Thirsty? I can sneak you something from the party."

Sam chuckled softly. "I don't think I should drink for a while after that night. Plus, we don't know if Dad has cameras in the house."

EJ raised an eyebrow playfully. "Well, next time you're over, we'll make it happen, Ms. Lightweight."

Sam rolled her eyes but smiled. "Deal."

——

They sat quietly for a moment, watching as Luke and Karen fussed over Brooke and Max, their favorite. EJ couldn't help but feel the weight of his father's expectations pressing down on him, and now on Sam too.

"I'm probably gonna head out soon," EJ said, breaking the silence. "Got some more parties to hit up. Can't let Brooke hog all the attention she's already getting."

Sam nodded, wiping her eyes. "Thanks, EJ. For... you know."

EJ squeezed her shoulder gently. "Always, Sammy."

He stood up and walked over to where Luke, Karen, and Brooke were gathered. "Hey, Mom, Dad, Brooke. I'm gonna head out to a few more parties."

Brooke, ever perceptive, looked at him with a knowing smile. "Are you going to see Robin?"

EJ sighed inwardly, trying to keep his composure. "I told you guys, she's just a friend."

Karen raised an eyebrow, her gaze probing. "Just a friend? You seem awfully protective of her."

Luke nodded in agreement. "She a journalist, you said? What's she like?"

EJ glanced at Sam, silently pleading for backup. Sam smirked mischievously but remained silent, clearly enjoying EJ's discomfort.

"She's cool," EJ replied vaguely. "Met her a few months ago."

Karen and Luke exchanged a look, clearly not satisfied with EJ's evasive answers. Brooke smirked knowingly, but she didn't press further.

Karen smiled knowingly. "Well, I'll be tuning into the news. Can't wait to see her."

"Please don't." EJ cringed, hugging his Mom.

"Alright, well, be safe out there," Luke said finally, his tone tinged with concern.

EJ nodded gratefully. "Always am."

——

EJ's voice crackled through the phone, a mix of annoyance and disappointment evident.

"EJ, my man, you've arrived at the Victoria's Secret party! Isn't it glorious?" Barney's voice boomed on the other end, full of anticipation.

EJ surveyed the dimly lit room, where the remnants of a once-vibrant party lay scattered. A few tired guests lingered around, nursing half-empty drinks and half-hearted conversations.

"What the? I thought you said there would be supermodels prancing around in bras?" EJ's voice cut through the party's subdued atmosphere.

Barney chuckled knowingly. "EJ, you know the best things come last, you just have to wait and... appreciate the ambiance."

EJ rolled his eyes, clearly unimpressed. "Nah, this is ridiculous. You got any weed?"

Barney's laughter echoed through the phone. "Meet me outside in five."