“Some of us have explored the other side before coming out, so it’s not terribly uncommon. And with fertility clinics being slow on the diversity train, same-sex couples haven’t always had the same options as hetero couples.” Dylan sighed. “We said no, in case you were wondering.”
Victor lifted his hands in the air. “Not my business.”
“Do you think maybe Shannon is here to find a guy to do the job?” Dylan asked.
The thought had crossed Victor’s mind more than once. “That’s where I’m confused. If she is, she isn’t going about it very aggressively.”
“She doesn’t seem to be the aggressive type.” Erasmo looked over Victor’s shoulder, lifted his chin. “We could just ask her.”
“Sure, and confess to invading her privacy by reading her book. Women don’t like that,” Victor said.
Dylan smiled. “He has a point, hon. I say we keep this to ourselves.”
Somehow Victor thought invading Shannon’s privacy by watching her skinny-dipping every night might be the bigger sin, but he wasn’t about to go to confession on that one.
“Don’t say anything to anyone,” Avery said as they made their way to the beach barbeque and bonfire that night. As the afternoon moved on and Avery’s morning sickness eased, her denial ramped up. Although Shannon had slipped out of the hotel in a cab and returned from a pharmacy with an at-home pregnancy test, it said to use it in the early morning, so it sat in their bathroom waiting for the next day. “Probably a false alarm.”
Shannon rolled her eyes. Let the woman live her fantasy for another night. By morning, she’d confirm what they both already knew.
The sun had yet to set, but the small fire was heating the warm air on the beach. The guys were already there, reserving seats for the two of them.
“It’s not cold enough for a fire,” Avery said as she sat down.
Shannon scratched at a bite on her arm. “Maybe it will help with the mosquitos.”
“Vicious little shits, aren’t they?” Erasmo said.
Victor moved over, giving her room to sit at the low-lying table surrounded by cushions. “They don’t seem to like me,” Victor bragged.
“Lucky you.”
His eyes traveled the length of her, and he smiled. “You both look lovely tonight.”
Avery flopped beside Dylan. “I should . . . I’ve been sleeping all damn day.”
“I’m glad you’re feeling better. Nothing worse than getting ill on vacation.”
Avery wasn’t amused. “I’m over it.”
The waiter arrived to take a drink order. Shannon hesitated until Avery spoke. “Iced tea . . . wait, no—caffeine. Juice.”
“Orange? Cranberry? Apple?”
“Apple . . . wait, no. Orange.”
The waiter paused. “Any tequila in that?”
Avery looked around at the group and sighed. “No.”
“And you?” He turned to Shannon.
She glanced at Avery, wanting to support her.
“She’ll have a margarita,” Avery ordered for her, removing her choice.
“I will?”
“Yes. Just because I shouldn’t, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t.”
Shannon smiled. “Fine, I’ll take a margarita.”
The waiter walked away.
“We’re glad you could join us,” Dylan told Avery. “Our flight leaves in the morning.”
“This was your last day?” Shannon asked. How did she miss that?
“Work calls.”
“If you’re ever in LA . . . ,” Victor offered.
“I’m sure we’ll make it there sooner or later.” Erasmo put his arm around Dylan’s shoulders. “Our place is small, but you’re welcome anytime—”
“No long goodbyes. The night just started,” Avery snapped, cutting them off. “It’s a small world. Made smaller by airplanes and shit like that.”
Everyone stopped talking and stared at her.
Avery looked around, oblivious to the effect her words had on the group. “God, I’m hungry.”
Shannon hid her smile behind her hand, counting the hours until the morning when Avery wouldn’t be able to deny her fate any longer.
If there was one thing she was well read on, it was pregnant women and single mothers. She was happy that her friend was only half of that equation—not that Avery couldn’t handle taking on a child by herself. She could. Liam, however, would balance out all of Avery’s insecurities.
Once her drink arrived, Shannon lifted it in a toast. “To new friends.”
Victor touched his glass to hers. “To surprising friends.”
Their eyes caught and gooseflesh prickled on her arms.
Gooseflesh and Victor were words that had no right belonging together. Her gaze moved to his lips. It had been a long time since she’d noticed a man’s lips.
“When do you girls leave?” Dylan asked, pulling Shannon out of her thoughts of first kisses and butterflies.
“Day after tomorrow.” Their time had flown by.
“What about you, Victor?”
Victor watched Shannon as he answered, “I’m booked through Monday, but ah . . . I don’t know.”
“I thought Corrie said you had two weeks,” Shannon said.
“Another week in Cozumel . . . I’m not feeling it. I took a whole week, that’s big for me,” he said, directed at Shannon.
“I’m pleasantly surprised. I didn’t think you had it in you.”
He chuckled. “Me either.”
“At least now you have the right clothes if you ever come back.” Dylan nudged Victor.
“Why would he come back?” Erasmo asked Dylan. “This is where the ex dumped him.”
“Hello, Mr. Sensitivity!” Dylan scolded.
“Sorry.”
Victor brushed them off. “I have less memories of her here than I do of all of you.”
Shannon doubted he would ever be able to return and not think of Corrie.
“Have you thought about what you’re going to say to her when you see her again?” Avery asked.
Victor looked away. “No. I’ve actually done very little thinking about the whole thing.”
That explains his flirting, Shannon thought. Ignore the woman at home so you could concentrate on the woman in front of you. In this case, her.
“Lots of fish in the sea. I’m sure you’ll find someone new to swim with.” Avery smiled at Victor when she spoke.
“Lots of sharks out there, too,” Dylan added.
Avery narrowed her eyes. “Shannon’s not a shark.”
“I didn’t say anything about Shannon.”
Shannon jumped in. “I’m not swimming in anyone’s ocean.”
“What are you guys talking about?” Erasmo asked.
“Duh, Victor and Shannon,” Avery said.
Shannon wanted to duck under the tiny table. “There is no Victor and Shannon.” Shannon attempted to bury Avery with a look.
It didn’t work. “We’d all have to be blind to not see this thing that’s going on here.” Avery waved her hand in the air between the two of them.
Erasmo caught on and smirked. “She has a point.”
“See?” Avery sat taller, as if she’d made her case known. “So no talking about sharks in the Victor and Shannon Ocean.”
“Now you lost me again.” Erasmo frowned.
Dylan leaned over. “Avery said there were lots of fish in the sea, I said beware of sharks—”
“Shannon’s not a shark,” was Erasmo’s reply.
“Exactly!” Avery lifted a hand in the air for him to fist bump.
It was like watching a skit of “Who’s on First,” only Shannon was standing on second.
“This is a ridiculous conversation. There is nothing going on between Victor and me.” She looked at Victor for his agreement.
He stared at her.
“You were engaged six days ago.”
“That’s true.”
“I thought you were a complete asshole.”
Okay, what had she said to pull that cocky smirk from his lips?
“What?” she asked him.
“Thought? Past tense.”
She backed out. “I’d go back to thinking that if you were hitting on me six days out from a near-marriage breakup. I mean, c’mon. Corrie’s perfume still lingers in your hair.”
It seemed the whole table leaned forward to sniff Victor.
“I’ve showered,” he told them.
Erasmo laughed.
“Figuratively speaking!” These people were exhausting her.
Victor leaned back on his hands, amused with himself, the conversation.
She wanted to hit him.
“So what is the appropriate time frame for hitting on someone after a near-marriage breakup?” Victor asked.
“I have no idea. But it’s a hell of a lot longer than six days.” She glared at him.
“Three months,” Erasmo said.
“That’s about right. Otherwise it’s just a rebound thing, and those never have a chance.” Dylan and Erasmo were on the same page.
“A lot can change in three months,” Avery said, staring away from the table. “Three months ago I was getting married, and now I’m knocked up.”
Victor snapped his gaze toward Avery.
Dylan and Erasmo opened their mouths in awe.
Shannon smiled and shook her head.
“What?” Avery asked as if completely clueless to the bombshell she’d just revealed.
“You told everyone you’re pregnant,” Shannon told her.
“No, I didn’t.”
“Knocked up . . . pregnant. Same thing,” Dylan said, his gaze flickering to Victor.
“Might be. Maybe . . . oh, God.” Avery dropped her head in her arms.
Shannon looked over at Victor. “This is what denial looks like,” she told him.