Jude, the novella’s male romantic lead, narrates the sections of the novella titled with his name, and his first-person voice also features in the correspondence sections where he messages with his colleague Adam or emails and texts with Veronica.

Jude is a strong and confident character who knows his own mind. When he takes over his brother Jason’s small tech company after Jason suffers a traumatic brain injury, Jude feels overwhelmed by his new role but also confident that he can make his brother proud. Much like Veronica, he is undergoing a significant life change that challenges him to reinvent himself. As Codeify’s CEO, he is in a position of power where people look to him for guidance and leadership. Despite Jude’s confidence, he is also able to admit when he needs help. His interactions with Adam and Veronica grant him organic opportunities to express vulnerability and communicate his own need for support. With Veronica, he’s willing to admit that he’s still learning and needs someone like her to run their marketing campaign, underscoring his innate humility.

Jude’s relationship with Veronica allows him to envision a romantic future for himself with greater confidence and clarity. Before he discovers that his new colleague is also his attractive neighbor, Jude is hesitant in in-person interactions. He sees Veronica in the hallway of their building regularly but feels shy about introducing himself or making his interest in her known. Like Veronica, his remote job keeps him locked in his apartment behind his computer—rendering face-to-face interactions more intimidating. Once he discovers the connection between Veronica and 4C, he feels more emboldened and becomes less reliant on online communication to communicate with his new love interest.

The authors further humanize Jude’s character by repeatedly alluding to his close relationships with his brother, sister-in-law, and nieces. His familial bonds suggest that Jude is drawn to conventional family structures and relates easily to kids, readily assuming the avuncular role in his brother’s kids’ lives. This aspect of his personality aligns with Veronica’s values—creating subtle connections between the love interests.

Clara, Veronica’s younger sister and closest friend, serves a supporting role in the narrative. Throughout the novella, the sisters remain in regular contact—exchanging text messages and phone calls and meeting up for regular evenings out with their mutual friend Jordan. Clara is a fun-loving character who satisfies the conventional rom-com role of the best-friend sidekick to the protagonist. Where Veronica is more type-A, focused, and driven, Clara is more open to serendipity, potential taboos, and having fun. As the mother of Veronica’s two beloved nieces, Piper and Daniella, Clara vicariously lives through her sister’s dating experiences and consistently encourages Veronica to take risks, try new things, and trust her own instincts.

Clara is a static character whose consistent personality reflects her steadiness in Veronica’s life. Veronica can always count on Clara. She can go to her sister with serious and absurd situations alike, always confident that Clara will listen to her and provide her with support. Clara also adds levity to the narrative. She jokes around with Veronica as the two have an easy, familiar dynamic. She even teases Friday about his good looks when the sisters run into him in the hall of Veronica’s building. In these ways, she fulfills the best-friend trope, supporting but never intruding upon Veronica’s primary storyline.

Jordan, Veronica and Clara’s mutual friend, provides comic relief throughout the narrative. Like Veronica and Clara, Jordan enjoys banter and jokes. He quickly invests in Veronica’s vocational and romantic concerns, offering up advice when needed. Jordan also adds levity to the narrative, while granting perspective on Veronica’s story. When Veronica is taking her life conflicts more seriously, Jordan helps her to see her situation from a fresh and more relaxed point of view.