The Family You Make (Sunrise Cove #1)(71)

“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.

“Betty’s recipe never fails,” Lloyd had said proudly as they’d all stuffed themselves with one of the two incredible loaves they’d made.

“Good enough to take to your mom’s tomorrow night for their anniversary dinner?” Jane had asked, nerves evident.

He’d leaned over the cutting board that had only crumbs on it and had kissed her right in front of her grandpa.

Jane had grinned at him. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

“Everyone’s going to love it, and you,” Levi had promised, and meant it.

“What’s not to love about a big family dinner?” Lloyd said. “I don’t remember much, but I know how much I miss those.”

Jane had paused. Looked at Levi, who had nodded, then drew a breath. “You can go with me, if you’d like.”

Lloyd smiled. “Really?” he’d asked softly, hopefully, also disbelievingly.

“Really,” Jane had whispered back.

Now Levi looked into Peyton’s eyes. “Did you bring Apple Jacks?”

She gave a slow shake of her head, ponytails bouncing. “Momma said no more food outside of the kitchen cuz of Jasper.”

At her side, Jasper panted a happy, ever-hopeful smile, completely unrepentant.

“I’m going to be an astronaut,” Peyton said apropos of nothing. “I’m going to be the first human to land on Jupiter.”

“Sounds good,” Levi said. “But you can’t actually land on Jupiter. It’s made of gas and has no solid surface. Same with Saturn and Neptune.”

She nodded sagely. “Grandma says I’m going to be as smart as you. Which means I’ll find a way to land on Jupiter.”

“If anyone can do it, you can,” he said.

She beamed at him with her two missing front teeth. “You’re smiling this morning.”

He was.

“Just like yesterday morning.”

True story.

“And the morning before that. Why are you smiling in the mornings now?”

“Are you six, or thirty?”