Jane and Mina - 1:30 a.m.
"You have nothing to feel bad about," Jane commented in an effort to soothe any anxieties Mina might be harboring. She picked up Mina's foot and relieved her of one of her shoes. She squeezed Mina's bare foot reassuringly. "There's no shame in letting loose once and awhile, especially for you. You spend your days helping other people. You deserve a night off."
Jane tossed her friend's shoe next to the bed and worked on the other shoe while Mina talked about college. Jane couldn't be sure but Mina might have just paid her a compliment. It was intriguing, especially in the open and unabashed way the acclaim was given, but not wholly surprising. Jane had entertained some private suspicions regarding Mina. Even if the indifference toward and total lack of men in Mina's life meant anything at all, the lingering looks to women (even to Jane herself upon occasion) certainly left Jane to make some private conclusions. Even though Jane was fully committed to being the mama bear to Mina's fun evening, she was a total sucker for compliments from pretty women. She let out a bark of laughter and smiled.
"You are just being nice," Jane accused good-naturedly, finally wrestling Mina's other shoe and dropping it to the floor. Jane's tone was softer, lighter, and kinder with Mina than most anyone else. She had never taken the time to analyze why that was but now certainly wasn't the most opportune time. "Besides, I'm not sure I would want to be a part of a club that would want me as a member. But that's neither here nor there; got my G.E.D. and enrolled in the police academy right after. College was never in the cards for me. Although, I certainly can see the appeal of living in a house with all women."
Jane gave Mina a comically significant look, all raised eyebrows and smirking mouth. She dialed down the wattage on her grin slightly, remembering she was supposed to be mother-henning.
"You want me to grab you some PJ's?" She asked, jerking her head toward the chest of drawers.