The Family You Make (Sunrise Cove #1)(93)

Mateo just looked at her.

“‘Love, M’?”

His dark eyes never wavered from hers. “Yes.”

“You . . . love me?”

His hands came up to her face. “Yes,” he said simply.

She drew in a shuddery breath.

“I don’t expect—”

“I love you too. But—”

He winced at the but.

“But,” she said softly, “I’m not the girl who dreamed about a wedding and kids. I’m . . .” She shook her head. “I’m still not sure I see those things for myself.”

“A piece of paper linking us . . . kids . . .” He smiled into her eyes. “I can do without those things. What I can’t do without is you, Charlotte.”

Heart. Melted.

He started to kiss her, but someone was calling his name urgently from down the hall and he straightened. “We’re swamped. I gotta go. But I can’t until I know we’re okay.”

She smiled. “We’re more than okay.”

He smiled back and vanished.

Still smiling, she left the building and walked over to the urgent care next door to share her lunch with Jane.

She found her sitting behind the counter staring off into space, looking pale.

And maybe like she’d been crying.

“What is it?” Charlotte asked.

Jane just shook her head.

“Jane—”

“What is that amazing scent?”

Charlotte looked around. There was no one waiting to be seen. “Let’s take lunch.”

They went into the back, heated the container, then sat at the small staff table and shared the food.

“Mateo cooked this?” Jane asked after shoving in a few big bites. “You’re going to have to marry him, you do realize that, right?”

“It’s his mom’s cooking.”

“But he shared it with you.”

“Yes,” Charlotte said, unable to keep the small smile off her face.

Jane took in her expression and nodded with satisfaction, though the good humor didn’t make it all the way to her eyes. “He’s the One.”

Charlotte set her fork down. “You ready to talk?”

“No.”

“But you will anyway?”

Jane pushed the food back. “My grandpa has cancer.”

Charlotte felt the breath stutter in her throat. “Oh, Jane. I’m—”

“—Sorry?” Jane shook her head. “I am too.” She looked away. “I’m . . .” She stood up and paced the room. “I’m feeling a lot of things.”

“You’re angry,” Charlotte said softly.

“Damn right I am.”

“It’s one of the first emotions to hit with a cancer diagnosis.”

Jane stopped pacing, “I’m not one of your patient’s family members.”

Charlotte nodded. “Of course not. I’m sorry.”

Jane closed her eyes for a beat, then sighed. “No. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped at you. He didn’t tell me about it. I wasn’t important enough to him. I had to find out on my own.”

Charlotte’s first thought was pain and fury for Jane, who’d started to trust her grandpa after a life filled with hard-earned mistrust of her family. If the man had been standing here, Charlotte could have killed him with her bare hands. Her second thought gave her an icy shiver. “Jane. Tell me you didn’t defy HIPAA—”

Jane’s face closed off and Charlotte’s heart took another hard kick. “Jane . . .” She broke off when her phone beeped. Work. She was needed in the OR stat.

“Go,” Jane said. “I’m fine.”

No, she wasn’t, but Charlotte had no choice. “I’ll call you soon as I can.”

Jane turned away and nodded, and Charlotte had to walk away. One of the hardest things she’d ever done.

JANE MOVED ROBOTICALLY through the rest of her shift. The second it was over, she went straight to her car and started driving. Charlotte had been right. She needed to talk this out with her grandpa. Without jumping to conclusions. It made perfect sense. It was the logical thing to do.

But here was the thing. She didn’t feel logical. Which undoubtedly was the reason that when she parked, she found herself at Levi’s house.

Probably because her heart knew what her brain had accepted: that in that moment, she needed Levi. She could feel the vibration of panic and anxiety just beneath her skin. She was scared and angry, and on the verge of losing it as she got out of her car.

Levi opened the door before she got to it. “You’re off early—” he started, but then his smile faded as he came down the steps to meet her. “What’s wrong?”

She bit down hard on her lip, but the tears came anyway, silently spilling down her cheeks.

“Are you hurt? Where?” He reached for her, reeling her in, eyes sharp as they ran over every inch of her.

“Not hurt,” she managed. “Just . . . I got some hard news, but I can’t say it yet.” Not without completely losing it. “I need a minute.”

His eyes were filled with a deep concern, and there was a grim set to his mouth as he gathered her into his arms and held her close, resting his cheek against the top of her head. “Whatever it is, Jane, I’m right here. We’ll deal with it.”