“Sort of. Maybe. I don’t know.” She paused, wondering if her past jokes on the topic had been hiding the truth. “I have to think about it for a second. Did I really stop cheering because of my mom? At the time I had a thousand reasons why it didn’t make sense, but now...” She grimaced. “I hate emotional self-exploration. It makes me want to work on an action movie or something.”
“Not with that cast.”
Victoria grinned. “It would get in the way and my orthopedist would be so pissed.”
“Do you miss cheering?”
“Not anymore. It was fun, though.” She’d liked being on a team and the challenge of learning new routines. “In a way,stunt work isn’t that different. We all work together to make something happen.”
“And it has the added advantage of Ava hating it,” Shannon said lightly.
Victoria held up her glass of wine. “You got that right.”
“My mom always supported whatever I wanted to do,” Shannon said. “But I think in a different way than Ava. She was always there. I mean right there.” She gestured to her left. “She checked every homework assignment, kept in regular touch with my teachers. Whatever happened, she was ready to catch me if I started to fall.”
“That would have freaked me out,” Victoria admitted. “I was always an independent kid. According to my parents, I needed to do everything myself. I remember being pretty young and being on a playground somewhere. Ava wanted to stay with me, but I pushed her away. I had worlds to conquer, and I didn’t need my mother getting in the way.”
“I wasn’t like that at all. I wanted my mom close.”
Victoria couldn’t relate. “Then it’s good that she was there for you.”
“Sometimes. It made my life easier.” Shannon hesitated. “Now I wonder if I didn’t learn the right skills. Despite the fact that I moved out, I don’t feel independent. I’m not sure what to do with my life. I flunked out of college, and now I’m working for my mom. It was supposed to be a transitional job, but it’s been three years, and there I am. In the same office chair. So I’m trying to figure out what’s next, and I don’t have a clue.”
“Most people our age are clueless,” Victoria said. “I wonder about my own future. The stunt thing is great, but I worry about the next injury and the one after that.” She picked up her lettuce wrap. “Oh, don’t tell my mom that you’re trying to figure out a life plan. She’ll put together one for you in twenty minutes, along with bullet points with thehows andwhens. You not wanting to do it won’t be discussed.”
“She’s an incredible woman. She told me about her foundation. I can’t believe she started one on her own. She spends her day giving away money to help people. That’s her job.”
“I agree that she’s doing a good thing, but watch your back. She’ll absolutely try to take over.”
“My mom already has that market cornered.”
“We could make them compete,” Victoria teased. “Who can be the most intrusive mom? Although I have to say Cindy seems too nice to beat out Ava.”
“I think she’d surprise you.”
They both laughed.
Victoria was having a good time, which was unexpected. She hadn’t gotten a sense of Shannon at the dinner—probably because she’d been in a weird mental space, trying not to react to having the Wanted Baby right there at the table. But Shannon was easy to be with. She was also Javiar’s soon-to-be stepsister and his roommate.
“What’s with Javiar?” she asked. “Is he a good guy?”
As soon as the words came out, she wanted to slap herself. What a dumb thing to say. What did she care if he was “good” or not, unless they were talking about his performance in bed.
“Why do you want know?” Shannon asked. “Are you interested in him?”
“Not in the way you mean, but he’s been over a few times.” She wrinkled her nose. “I think he wants to date me.”
“I had no idea. We don’t talk about his love life very much. I take it you’re not interested in him?”
“Oh, I totally am. For sex.”
Shannon’s surprise was nearly comical. “Not a relationship?”
Victoria waved away that comment. “I don’t do that kind of thing. I’m in it for the orgasm. Javiar’s holding out on me, and I can’t figure out why.”
“So just random sex with different guys?”
“Uh-huh.”
