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“We’re a lot older now,” Victory continues, “and hopefully a bit wiser. So, I thought we could catch up and form an alliance before dinner tonight.”

“I’d love to chat with you, but I’m not going out tonight.”

“You are,” she insists. “There’s really no choice in the matter.”

I burst out laughing. “I forgot how much of a firestorm you are.”

“Remember that if you even think about hurting Gavin again.”

“I won’t. Promise.”

We spend the next few hours catching up, and I tell Victory everything she wants to know about the past. How much I knew about what my dad was doing. My brother’s illness and eventual full recovery, which was only possible with the money our dad made. What I’ve been up to in Chicago.

And she tells me about her path back to Cade, the loss of Hannah, which has us both in tears over the unfairness of life, and how much she’s enjoying being a bonus mom to Aidan, despite the circumstances.

But when I press her for information on how Gavin has been since I left, she won’t give me a single detail. When it comes to other people’s secrets, Victory is a vault, which is exactly why I was always comfortable telling her mine.

I’m just so desperate to absorb every bit of information about Gavin that it was worth a try.

As much as I should have dedicated this time to working and finding more clients, I also needed to have this conversation. I needed a friend.

“I’m going to head home and get ready,” Victory says. “Cade and I will be at the Moose tonight and so will some of our high school friends. Some of Gavin’s men will join us, too. It will be good for you to show up.”

“Victory–”

She holds up a hand to stop my protest. “I didn’t sayeasyfor you. It won’t be. But Gavin wants you there, and he’s going out on a limb for you. The least you can do is stand next to him when he asks you to. I’ll just let you think about it that way and hopefully, I’ll see you tonight.”

“Do you have time to grab a coffee next week?”

“Coffee is the way to my heart,” Victory says. “You can come over and meet Aidan, see our new place, and soak in the hot tub.”

“Sounds awesome.”

We exchange numbers and then Victory leaves me alone with my guilt and uncertainty.

Should I stay home? Should I go out with Gavin? Would it be a date if I did? Regardless of what he thinks he wants from me, what would actually be best for him?

I catch up with Gavin right as he’s climbing into his truck. His face registers surprise and then happiness, which warms me from head to toe despite the cold bite in the air.

“You didn’t answer my texts,” he accuses.

“I know, I’m sorry. I wasn’t sure if I was going to come out tonight, but… Well, Victory convinced me.”

“She did?” he asks, with a big grin. “I can always count on that girl to have my back.”

Victory has always been close friends with the twins. Her relationship with Gavin never made me jealous, even back in high school when insecurity was my most dominant feature.

They’re more like bickering siblings than anything else, and Victory has told me on countless occasions that she’d rather cut off her own limbs than sleep with one of the twins.

I don’t share the same sentiment, though Gavin is way hotter than Bobby.

Gavin lifts me into the truck and starts the drive into town with country music playing softly as our soundtrack.

“Was Cameron mad that you were snowed in with me?”

“He was mad that I took a risk and drove through the storm,” Gavin returns. “But he had everything under control, and Brad and my dad were both here to help him. They know way more about this business than I ever will.”

“So the short answer is yes.”