“There is no chance we don’t make a big celebration over that,” he informed her.
“Aevrin…” Cassia sighed.
“Just facts, Miss Cassia,” he told her with a wink.
“I’m not asking you to.”
“I know that.”
“Well… alright. What are you looking forward to?”
“Your birthday,” he told her with a big grin, lifting the wine cup up. He took a sip as Cassia buried her face in her hands, shoulders shaking in a silent laugh. “...And the house, definitely.” The sooner he had her under a roof that housed just the two of them instead of his whole family, the better.
“That, I can agree too,” she said.
It was Cassia’s turn for a question. She reached forward to spear a bite of his hydra—he’d already given permission; they both had, to taste each other’s food—and ate it as she thought.
“When did you know you loved me?” she asked.
He reached forward and took her hand.
“I think it was that day, with the custard, when it was raining.”
“Are you sure that wasn’t just you falling in love with good, simple flavors?” Cassia teased.
“Hm… maybe the way it tasted on your lips, later.” He smirked at her. “What about you?”
“I don’t know,” Cassia admitted. “I think I felt it way before I could admit it to myself. I didn’t really think the word until a bit before we said it to each other, but… maybe I was falling the whole time since I met you.”
“Well, if we’re counting falling, I’m changing my answer. I definitely fell before you did.”
“No, you didn’t.”
“C’mon. We both know it,” he insisted.
Cassia narrowed her eyes at him, and took a sip of wine. He grinned.
“Your question,” Cassia asked.
He glanced around the eating house, then leaned forward and whispered:
“Can you tell the difference between what we’re drinking and a wine that just costs ten?”
Cassia leaned forward, too.
“Yes,” she whispered back.
“Liar,” he said. They both laughed.
It had been dark for a bit by the time they left, and his heart, which had calmed a little with all their laughter, had started pounding hard again. He helped her into the cart and drove them home.
“Aevrin,” Cassia said when they parked in front of the house. He turned to look at her. “Thank you,” Cassia whispered.
“It was my pleasure. Thank you for coming with me.”
“You’re too good to me,” she said, and reached over to trace his jawline, sending a sear of longing through him. “I don’t know what I did to deserve all this.”
“I love you, Cassia,” he told her. It was as simple andas wonderful as that.
