Summer couldn’t help but laugh at that. “And there’s a thing I can’t argue with.” She toyed with her glass for a moment, spinning it in circles. “Not that I actually have a whole lot to do today, but I don’t want to just take up your time for no reason. Err, maybe some day you could introduce me to some of your friends here?”
Jane smiled. “Sure I could. I don’t have a lot of friends, but…” She shrugged, and chuckled. “You could meet Pepper, definitely. And Thor, obviously. And Darcy, too. She was my intern back in New Mexico, and I know she was living here for a little while, at least.” Darcy and Summer would get along really well. “And Charles, too, if I can track him down again at some point.” Something occurred to her. “Actually, you and Charles would get along really well. He’s a telepath.” She grinned. “And he’s incredibly friendly.”
“A telepath,” Summer mused. “Interesti—Charles. A telepath named Charles. /You/ know Professor X?!” She laid her head down on the table. “I must have done something wrong in my life, all the good stuff fell to you.”
Jane laughed and shook her head. “You didn’t do anything wrong! I just… it happens to be a lot of strange coincidences,” she said, shrugging. “But honestly, I’ll introduce the two of you. He’s amazing, he really is, and he’s always eager to learn more about anyone and anything.” She smiled. “He’d probably say that you’re fascinating.”
“No, just insane,” Summer replied, grinning back. “I should just make you list all the famous people you know and be done with it, then tag along on one of your days just so I can say I laid eyes on them all.”
She looked out at the street, a little amazed. One random e-mail, and somehow things turned right around. Okay, so maybe Loki wasn’t the safest friend to have, all touch-me-not and distant, and Jane was often busy with her research, but it was a far cry better than when she’d first come here, alone and empty and hurting.