“I meant me. I figured that out about me for you,” she said. “I don’t really let myself care about people. It doesn’t work out for me, so I just decided to stop. With you I feel like I didn’t have a choice. One day you were there, and then, I always wanted you to be there.”

“That was a nice save.”

“I’ve been holding that in for a whole year.” She picked up the ace card with her face on it, noticing for the first time that it was the heart suit, and placed it in front of him. “I didn’t want you to think that it meant I wanted to date or something, and I didn’t know how else to explain how I felt, so I just kept it to myself.”

“I get that,” he said. “I don’t think we would be good together like that. At least, not right now. It would mess everything up, and I like things the way they are between us.”

“Me too.” She nodded for everything she was worth. “Just like this is what I want. More than anything.”

“I think”—he paused, face screwed up in concentration—“since we’re being honest, I think I would like to kiss you one day. Someday. Again, you know, not right now, but it’s something I’ve thought about enough that it’s worth mentioning.”

Luna took her time to make sure her answer felt right. “I think I would like to try that. Someday. If it’s you.”

“Someday.”

“Someday,” she agreed. And she knew in her heart that it wouldn’t matter to him whether or not that day ever came.

Alex inhaled a deep, shaking breath and blew it out as hard as he could. “I’m glad something good came out of this.”

“Fantastic detour. 10/10 would recommend. Didn’t help us at all with the game, though.”

“Too bad it’s not ‘Preheat oven to 214 degrees.’ Two-one-four. That would be easy. Valentine’s Day. Chocolate squares.” He picked up the tablet. “Plug your ears, because if there’s a Valentine’s Day or Love Room I’m going to scream.”

“Wait.” Luna sat up, holding her hands out. “Wait a minute, wait a minute. Okay, hear me out. If I admit I’m really bad when it comes to guessing the meanings of this recipe, can we at least try my idea?”

“Sure. We’re not really doing anything else.”