Jane shook her head. “God, no. This is not about forgiveness. You haven’t done anything wrong.”

“I did talk to Kristin before we agreed I should.”

“Yes. And I was quite worked up about that last night. But today I’m not as angry anymore and I’ve had some time to put myself in your position.” A crash of longing suddenly swept through her. Jane wanted to reach out and grab hold of Annie’s hand. “Which, we both know, wasn’t very hard for me to do.”

“I keep going back and wondering whether I should have come clean and told you as soon as I figured out my, er, feelings. I talked to Rita about it and she was adamant I spare you the knowledge of my silly crush.”

Jane managed a chuckle. “Do we need a protocol in case this happens again—to either of us?”

Annie smiled for a fraction of a second, then her face went all serious again. “Do you think I should have told you?”

Jane took a deep breath. “That’s a tricky one.” She drank from her wine. “I think you should have because it would have saved me the anguish of putting two and two together myself, but I’m not sure I would have told you either had I been in your position. Not to keep it from you, but as Rita said, to save you from it.”

“I’m sorry you had to find out the way you did. I’m truly sorry about the whole thing.”

“We’re talking about it. That’s what’s important.”

“And we have all day tomorrow to continue the conversation.” Annie put her hand in front of her mouth as she stifled a yawn.

“Will you come to bed with me?” Jane did reach out and put her hand over Annie’s.

“I thought you’d never ask.” Annie’s grin projected exhaustion as well as relief.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Annie pressed her naked body against her wife’s back. On any other night, she would doze off within minutes—as if her brain knew that the moment her skin touched Jane’s like that in a warm, comforting embrace, it was time to switch off and let sleep wash over her. But tonight, Annie didn’t feel quite right in her skin just yet. Nevertheless, progress had been made, and Annie pushed her nose into Jane’s hair, inhaling her smell.