Basking in the wonderfulness of that, she staggered into the shower. Ten minutes later, she was back in her room, hunting for clothes, when Levi called.
“Just wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
The sound of his low, sleep-roughened voice had her smiling like an idiot. “I think you know that I am.”
He gave a soft laugh.
Silence.
Memories.
Longing.
“So . . .” she managed. “Are we going to be uncomfortable around each other now?”
“Does it feel uncomfortable?”
She let out the breath she hadn’t even realized she’d been holding as relief flooded her. She loved his candidness and felt grateful for it. “I’m glad nothing’s changed,” she said softly.
“Not even if we made this real.”
Her heart stopped at the thought of doing just that, and because it did, she forced herself to joke away the odd ache his words had brought. “Oh, sure,” she teased, “you say that now, but before I knew it, it’d be all healthy food and anal sex.”
She heard a choking sound.
Then a rustling and a good amount of swearing.
“Levi?”
“Just snorted coffee up my nose.”
She laughed.
He was quiet a moment and she assumed he was mopping himself up. Then he asked quietly, “Any regrets?”
“No,” she said, and meant it.
“Good. Your car’s out front. I charged your battery. You should be good to go.”
“Wait— You did? But . . . you must have gotten up hours ago.”
“Did it after I drove you home. Mateo gave me a ride out there.”
That he and Mateo had skipped out on sleep to do such a thing for her boggled her mind. But maybe it shouldn’t. Levi had already proven he’d do just about anything for her. “Thank you.”
“Anytime. Later, Jane.”
“Later,” she whispered, wondering why it sounded like a promise. She went down to the kitchen and straight to the coffee maker, staring at it until it produced twelve ounces of blessed caffeine.
As she slurped it as fast as she could without burning the skin of the roof of her mouth off, Charlotte stepped into the room. She took one look at Jane and said, “Whoa.”
“What?”
“You’re wearing a smile. In the A.M. hours. What’s that about?”
Jane had noticed the smile when she’d brushed her teeth, but she’d been unable to get rid of it, so she shrugged.
Charlotte studied her more closely and gasped. “Oh my God.”
Jane did her best to ignore this, pouring herself a bowl of cereal. She made a big production of adding milk and searching for a spoon. When she looked up, Charlotte gave her a brow waggle.
Jane gave her a prim look. “I don’t know what you’re trying to say.”
“Yeah, you do.”
“Fine.” Jane tossed up her hands. “Yes, Mom, he got to first base, okay? In fact, we had a couple of home runs and several victory laps. Are you satisfied?”
Charlotte’s laugh was infectious, and Jane sighed and stopped fighting her ridiculous smile.
Coming close, Charlotte cupped Jane’s face and looked into her eyes. “I’m happy for you.”
“It was just one night.”
“It could turn into more if you let it.”
For a single second she allowed herself the luxury of wanting more. “You know I’m not built that way.”
“Jane.”
She grabbed her keys and turned back to her landlord, her roommate, her friend, and one of her favorite people on the planet. “I’m not.”
“People change.”
Jane pointed at her. “I will if you will.”
“Hey,” Charlotte said. Sighed. “And fair.”
Jane stopped to refill her cup and then went still at the sight of a trophy on the counter. She had no idea what the original plaque said because it had been marked by what appeared to be a Sharpie, and now read:
Head in Charge of Everything and Ruler of the Annual Moreno Snowball Challenge
Jane looked at Charlotte.
Charlotte was suddenly fascinated with making her own cup of coffee.
“Charlotte.”
“Jane.”
“Did you partake in a . . .” She read the trophy again. “Snowball challenge?”
“I partook. I won.” Charlotte grinned, looking way younger than her thirty-nine years. “I kicked ass. Including Mateo’s.”
Jane grinned. “That’s my girl.” She headed to the door.
“What if you’re running from something that might turn out to be really good?” Charlotte asked her back.
The thing was, Jane hadn’t survived on what-ifs.
“What if being with Levi would turn out to be one of the best things in your life? You’re just going to ignore it?” Charlotte asked.
“Uh-huh. Pot, I’d like you to meet Kettle.”
“I’m not running,” Charlotte said. “I’m staying put.”
“Physically, sure. But we both know that you’re holding back emotionally with Mateo because you’re afraid your past will keep you from leading a happy and full life. Problem is, that makes you a walking/talking self-fulfilling prophecy.”
Charlotte sucked in a breath. “So you’re saying I’m being a hypocrite.”
Jane held up her hand with her first finger and thumb half an inch apart.
Charlotte sat back, looking surprised and then thoughtful. “Well, damn.”
“What?”
“You’re right.”
Jane laughed. “Duh.”
“But we’re also both wrong. We’re holding back with our hearts on two men who deserve the best of us, and I don’t mean that our lives can’t be full without a man in them. I mean that maybe love could possibly enrich or enhance our lives. But . . .” She bit her lip.
“Yeah. But.” Jane drew a deep breath. “We need to find a way to move on from our pasts.”
“I will if you will,” Charlotte said, throwing Jane’s words back at her.
Jane had to admit, it was tempting. On a rough laugh, she left for work.
But the smile stuck all day long.
Chapter 20
Levi awoke to someone poking him in the cheek. When he didn’t open his eyes right away, little fingers pried one open for him.
Peyton’s face was two inches from his, with her faithful minion Jasper right behind her. “Hi!” she said at a high decibel. “You’re awake! Hi!”
Yes, they did this every single morning. And yes, every single evening when he kissed her good night, he also begged her not to poke him awake the next morning. She always smiled sweetly and said, “I promise,” but yet here they were.
“Tonight’s Grandma and Grandpa’s anniversary dinner!” Peyton grinned. “We finally get to meet Jane!”
“Yes,” he said sleepily. He hadn’t gotten much sleep the last couple of weeks. The night up on the Tahoe Rim Trail with Jane had started it, but he’d gladly forgo sleep every single night just to be with her.
And had. The thought made him smile. Just last night, he’d met her at her grandpa’s house, where they’d had takeout dinner, and afterward had made bread with one of Jane’s grandma’s old recipes.