“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.