When it comes to parenting the responsibility has always fallen on my shoulders. Victor spends time with Christian, but he doesn’t make decisions and he isn’t here every day. And I’m still frustrated that after his big speech on Sunday, he couldn’t bother to show up to Christian’s soccer practice.

“I’d hold off on Olympic dreams, he spent most of the last half of practice spinning in circles until he got so dizzy, he fell down.” His low chuckle sends goosebumps over my skin. “Anyway, coffee and pastries on the house this morning.”

He nods, the smile never leaving his lips. “You free tomorrow night for another virtual date? Team’s travelling, so I probably won’t be able to talk on the phone during the ride, but thought we could watch a movie and text?”

The way my heart beats against my chest, you’d think he just asked me to fly to Paris. “You already got your one date. Besides, don’t you have to, I don’t know, study plays or mentally prepare or something?” I wave my hands in the air.

“Nah. I usually watch Netflix or sleep. We’re going up tomorrow night, but the game isn’t until Saturday afternoon. Good to see you’re worried about me though, Kitty. I’ll text you at seven. I’ll even let you pick the movie this time.” He knocks on the counter twice with his knuckles and then steps away.

“Earth to Katrina.” Willa waves in front of my face.

I glance around the table, each member of our critique group stares at me questioningly. “Sorry. I was daydreaming. What was the question?”

“In my story the heroine’s mom is struggling to accept the choices she’s making – moving away from home, her choice of boyfriend, the college she’s picked. We were discussing how this would impact the heroine’s relationship with her mom, her actions, her inner thoughts. It’s such an important time in her life – time to grow up and grab independence by the balls – at least that’s the heroine’s thinking. What do you think?”

I blush, the situation feeling all too familiar and personal.

“Oh, um, I’m not sure. I guess the heroine would pull away, distance herself from her mom.” I bring my pen up to my lips like I’m deep in thought, considering it from the heroine’s point of view. I don’t need to. I’ve lived it. “She’d find herself telling her mom less, not sharing the details of her life in order to avoid fighting with her. I think we are all probably guilty of doing that, right?” I look around nervously but continue when they all look like they’re considering my words carefully. “We know our parents don’t want us drinking all night or skipping classes, but this is the time where we finally get to make those decisions. Plus, we all have to learn things on our own. Every generation repeats the mistakes of our parents not because we don’t know better, but because we need to face the consequences on our own.”