Are you up? Can we talk for a sec?
Seconds later three dots appeared followed bySure.
Shannon told herself she was going to be calm and simply get information, only the second Victoria opened the door, she felt a surge of fury that seemed to come out of nowhere.
“What’s wrong with you?” she demanded as she walked inside. “Why do you have to treat people like garbage? Do you think you’re better than him? Because you’re not. Javiar is sweet and funny and caring. He’s got a great personality, and he’s sexy as hell. So what’s the problem? You dumped him? You don’t get to dump him. He should have dumped you because you don’t deserve him.”
Victoria stared at her. “I don’t think you know me well enough to be yelling at me like this.”
“He’s my family, and you hurt him.”
“That’s between him and me.”
“Not anymore. What happened? Did you have one of your I-don’t-need-anyone-in-my-life moments? Because the whole lone-wolf thing isn’t a good look on anyone. And when it comes to you, it’s all just bullshit.”
She was just getting started, but before she could continue with her rant, Victoria walked into the kitchen and stuck a pod into her Nespresso before setting a mug in place and pushing the start button.
She faced Shannon again and leaned against the counter.
“Continue.”
Shannon stared at her. “What did you say?”
“Continue. I’m listening. You’re on a tear. I need coffee, which I’m taking care of, so go ahead.”
Shannon tried to remember what she’d been saying. “You piss me off.”
“I know. I’m sorry about Javiar. He’s a good guy, just not for me. I told him I didn’t do relationships, but he wouldn’t listen. I did offer sex, by the way. Several times.” Her tone turned wistful. “He wanted to wait. Oh, please. Wait? For what? I toldhim if it was the zombie apocalypse, then he could forget it because I would be too busy running away.” She shook her head. “This is better.”
“What? You being alone?”
“Yes. I don’t do well with people. I lack innate cheer.”
The Nespresso cycle finished. Victoria grabbed her coffee and walked to the table. Somehow Shannon found herself sitting across from her. It seemed the mad was gone, leaving behind confusion and a little sadness.
“You do fine with people,” she told her. “You’re just emotionally stunted.”
“You’re indecisive and spineless,” Victoria countered.
“You’re a coward. That’s why you won’t go out with Javiar. You’re scared of what could happen.”
“I am. I’ve already had my heart broken. It’s not anything I want to go through again. If I don’t get involved, I won’t fall in love. If I don’t fall in love, I’ll never have to feel like that again. It’s a win-win.”
“It’s a stupid plan. You’ll wind up old and alone.”
“As I believe love always ends badly for anyone who isn’t my parents and, you know, some other couples who are definitely the exception, then ending up old and alone is inevitable, so my way means I get to skip all the yucky parts. When you think about it, it’s actually a sensible plan.”
“But you’re lonely. You want someone in your life.”
“I have plants. I’m fine.”
“Now you’re lying.”
“I’m not. You’re the one who gave me the plants. They’re right there on the windowsill.” She pointed. “Are you having memory issues? Did you hit your head?”
“I meant you’re not fine. You’re—” Shannon stared at the object sticking out of the trash bin next to the stove. “Did you throw away your laptop?”
Victoria didn’t bother to look. “Technically, yes, but it’s moreof a time-out. We’re currently not speaking. I’m letting it think about what it did so it can apologize and fix it.”
