“This cad is done for the night,” John said through labored breath. “I don’t have anymore.”

The three of them sat on the floor, John and Victoria taking a breather while Chris lounged lazily. “So what’s this about your mom?” John asked.

Victoria wiped her brow and sighed. “My parents are throwing a blowout retirement reception for a fellow Marine this weekend. My mom called to remind me about it this evening. I don’t want to go.”

“So, are you going?” John asked.

Victoria nodded as she stretched her arm. “Yes, it’s a long and complicated dance we’ve had since I was a girl.”

He exchanged a glance with Chris, who raised his brow in response. They understood long and complicated feelings regarding parents. John Sr. had been a complicated man who had become more of an enigma when he’d married Sandy. John hadn’t gotten to know him any better before his father died of a sudden heart attack. When the anger had set in, it had been a struggle to separate that anger from the grief. Jessi had helped him with some of that, but he’d made mistakes along the way. If he could save Victoria from half of that...

“You need any company when you go home?” Chris asked.

Victoria gave a mirthless laugh. “I need a full platoon when it comes to Katherine Reese. When she’s in ‘gala-mode,’ she’s relentless.”

His friend gave a flippant shrug. “John should go with you. He’s a terrible fighter, but great with parents.”

They both stared at Chris who smiled between the two of them. Chris appeared proud of himself for putting her in the awkward position of asking. John had just enough energy to throttle the fool. He had managed to pin him down with one idiotic suggestion. Galas in Chicago? John was a downstate guy who worked with books. But any excuse to be with Victoria was almost enough to grin and bear her overbearing mother. He just didn’t know if she wanted him.

“I don’t think she’d want a guy like me at a fancy party,” John said. “I don’t want to frighten your mom.”

Victoria caught his gaze and twisted her mouth. “You’d be busy with Becca anyway.”

“I can stay at your place,” Chris offered. “I’ll take her to kickboxing class on Saturday and drop her off at your mom’s place afterwards.”

John shot him a glare. He caught the fact that she hadn’t corrected him and it gnawed at his belly. “It sounds like it might be a family affair.”

She shrugged uncomfortably. “Kind of? It’s going to be a pretty large celebration at the Drake Hotel.”

“Ooh, The Drake?” Chris whistled. “I’m sure Johnny can clean up for The Drake.”