Chapter Twelve
Charlotte stepped into Marin’s apartment and looked around. “Where’s Ember?”
“In her crate. Let me get her.” Marin turned and walked into her bedroom, leaving Charlotte standing inside the front door, heart racing.
She wasn’t sure why she was here. Yes, she’d wanted to make sure Marin was okay.
Marin had been in obvious physical pain when Charlotte left last night, so it was only reasonable to check in.
But that didn’t explain why Charlotte had gone home last night and spent the rest of the evening thinking about Marin, about the way she’d looked when she got home from her date, about the light in her eyes when she’d told Charlotte that Laura kissed her.
It didn’t explain why Charlotte had woken up feeling like she’d dreamed about Marin, or why Charlotte’s heart had nearly burst out of her chest when Marin opened the door just now.
The look on Marin’s face . . .
Charlotte didn’t know how to define it, only that it had caused her body to react instantly and uncontrollably, stomach sparking, cheeks blazing with heat.
She was so confused about what she was feeling, which meant she should probably keep her distance, and yet she craved Marin’s presence every time they were apart.
So, here she was. She walked to the kitchen table and set down the coffee cups and brown paper bag she’d brought with her, just as a black puppy burst into the kitchen, tail wagging in a happy swirl. “Hi, Ember.”
“Can you watch her for a minute while I get dressed?” Marin asked, sounding vaguely embarrassed. She gestured to the hoodie and sweatpants she wore. “I tossed on the first thing I could find when you knocked, but . . .”
Suddenly, Charlotte was aware that she could see the hard points of Marin’s nipples beneath the fabric. Marin wasn’t wearing a bra. Charlotte swallowed as her cheeks grew even warmer. “Sure. I’ve got her. Does she need to go out?”
“She might, but she can wait for me. I’ll be right back.” The bedroom door closed with a click.
Charlotte stared at that door for a moment, alarmed to realize she was thinking about Marin getting dressed on the other side of it, picturing Marin as she lifted that sweatshirt over her head, baring her breasts, and .
. . stop it. Charlotte blinked the image away, then spun to look for Ember.
Marin had said the puppy could wait, but taking her out now would give Charlotte something to do and hopefully help clear her head. Plus, she still had her coat on.
“Come on, puppy.” She clipped the little pink collar around Ember’s neck and guided her out the door.
Ember wandered around the yard, then led Charlotte toward the sidewalk that ran along the street.
Charlotte followed her down the block until she’d taken care of business, and then they walked back to the apartment together.
Marin was standing in the kitchen when they returned, wearing dark-gray jeans and a rose-colored top, her hair neatly brushed but still damp around her face.
She looked calmer now. There’d been something about her when Charlotte first showed up, an energy that made Charlotte blush.
She still felt flustered just thinking about it.
“Thank you for walking her . . . and for bringing goodies.” Marin smiled at her. She had the best smile. It brightened her whole face and made her eyes sparkle, filling Charlotte with joy every time she was on the receiving end of it.
“I could tell you were in pain last night,” Charlotte said. “I wanted to make sure you were okay. Plus, I just wanted to see you.”
“Thank you. Yeah, last night was a rough one, pain-wise, but this girl . . .” Marin gestured toward Ember, who ran over to press her head into Marin’s hand. “She lay beside me in bed all night. It was such a comfort. I don’t know how she knew, but . . .”
“Animals can be really intuitive about things like that. What a sweet girl you are, Ember.”
The puppy wagged her tail, then bounded across the kitchen to grab her stuffed dragon.
“I’m lucky to have her.” Marin gave the puppy an adoring look, then turned her gaze to the kitchen table. “And you. I had oatmeal earlier, but this looks way better.”
“Betty’s Bakery has the best lattes in town, I swear.” Charlotte sat at the table. “And the coffee cake muffins looked irresistible, so I got two of those too.”
“Yum.” Marin sat across from her, and for a moment, they just stared at each other.
It seemed to Charlotte that these moments kept happening, these little pauses when their eyes caught or their hands bumped, and Charlotte’s heart would race. She’d get flustered and not know what to do with her body. She knew this feeling with a man, but with a woman?
It was foreign and confusing, and Marin was her friend.
Marin was dating Laura now anyway. Yesterday, Laura had kissed her, for crying out loud.
On the cheek, but still. This wasn’t the time for Charlotte to question her sexuality, and Marin was absolutely not the woman she should be having these kinds of feelings for.
Charlotte wouldn’t let anything ruin their friendship.
Marin thought Charlotte was straight, and that was for the best. For all she knew, she was straight.
She and Marin had been through an incredibly intense situation together the morning they met.
She’d held Marin’s hand and watched her heart stop.
She’d thought she watched Marin die. Maybe Charlotte was confusing that connection for something more than it was.
Deep down, she knew that was a flimsy excuse, but whatever.
Marin was dating someone, which meant Charlotte couldn’t act on her feelings anyway.
So, Charlotte’s sexuality was irrelevant right now.
And anyway, she didn’t want to date anyone, not a man, woman, or anyone else, until she’d accomplished the things she’d come to Vermont to do.
“Awfully quiet,” Marin observed as she reached into the bag and pulled out the two muffins, then placed one in front of Charlotte.
“Sorry. Got lost in my thoughts for a minute.” Charlotte reached for her latte and took a big sip, grateful it had cooled enough that she didn’t burn her tongue.
Marin picked up her own latte. “That’s a measure of getting to know someone, isn’t it? When you feel comfortable zoning out in front of them.”
“Yes,” Charlotte agreed. “That is nice. So are you feeling better today?”
“The nerve pain is gone. I still have some sore muscles, but those are from snowshoeing, which was fun, so they’re totally worth it.”
“Good.”
“Laura and I are having dinner together on Thursday.” Marin was beaming now.
Charlotte forced herself not to flinch. “Really? Wow. That’s a big step.”
“It is.” Marin broke off a piece of muffin and popped it in her mouth, making the sexiest little moan as she chewed. “God, that’s good. We’re going to this place called Erin’s that’s apparently very casual and dog friendly, so I can bring Ember with me.”
“Erin’s isn’t the most romantic place, but bringing Ember along is a plus.” Charlotte tried to inject some enthusiasm into her tone. “You know I’m always happy to watch her for you too.”
“I know, and I appreciate it.” Marin’s expression had gotten . . . “Dreamy” was the best word Charlotte could think of to describe it, and now she felt sick. “Laura suggested Erin’s, and it was so thoughtful of her to accommodate my puppy. I really like her.”
“That’s amazing.” Charlotte picked at her muffin. “I’m so happy for you. I can’t wait to hear all about your second date.”
“Second date. I like the sound of that.” Marin grinned as she took another bite of her muffin. “Things are starting to feel real now. Next weekend, I’m driving out to visit my brother Jed.” Her expression dimmed, worry wrinkling her brow. “I decided I’ll come out to him first.”
“Yeah? That’s a huge step. How are you feeling about it?”
“Honestly? Terrified,” Marin admitted, “but there’s a reason I’m starting with Jed. He’s pretty laid back. I think he’ll be supportive.”
“Good. Where does he live?”
“Saratoga Springs. It’s about an hour and a half from here, so it’ll be a day trip for me.”
“Is Ember going with you?”
“I think so,” Marin said. “I’ll double-check with Jed first, but I don’t think he’ll mind. If he does, I’ll see if Ji-Yoon can watch her. I know you’re busy on Saturdays.”
“I am,” Charlotte admitted ruefully. “Working nights and weekends is the biggest downside of my job.”
“Well, I’m awfully grateful for your job, or else we might never have reconnected.” Marin reached out and gripped Charlotte’s hand, and the look they exchanged was so intense, surely it was imprinted on Charlotte’s soul.
It was also too much, with her newly realized feelings. Charlotte pulled away somewhat awkwardly. “I’m glad for that too.” She searched desperately for a subject change to lighten the mood. “Um, I haven’t checked my horoscope yet today. Want me to read yours too?”
Marin’s lips quirked. “I thought you weren’t reading those as often these days?”
“I wasn’t, but lately I’ve started keeping up with them again.” Charlotte shrugged. “I’m starting to feel curious about what the universe has in store for me . . . thanks to you.”
“So you’re married?” Charlotte gestured awkwardly toward Elena’s left hand, where a gold band rested. They’d met for lunch at a little café near the university, and Charlotte was unreasonably anxious about attempting to reconnect with her former best friend. “Tell me about him. Anyone I know?”
Elena shook her head. “We met through a dating app, of all things. His name’s Carlos, and you can just imagine how thrilled my mom is that I did indeed find a nice Puerto Rican man to marry, even living all the way up here in Vermont.”