Reyn frowned. Selona was right, but it didn’t necessarily follow that she was in love with Velario. She was herself with Selona and Lisca, too. And Khiran. But not with any eligible men, she realized. Even Danten, whom she liked and considered a friend, only saw a sliver of her true personality. And Reyn knew it. She’d had similar thoughts in the past. But hearing Selona say it made her consider what it meant.
She thought she had caught herself on the verge of falling for Velario and balanced herself on that edge. But maybe she had fallen much earlier—before she realized she even liked him.
“How can I be sure?” Reyn whispered. “The first time I thought I was falling in love, it turned out to be a huge mistake.”
Selona wrapped an arm around Reyn’s shoulder. “But Velario isn’t a mistake, is he? This isn’t rushed like your first time. You know Velario’s true personality. You’ve seen his good side and his bad.”
“What if he doesn’t love me?” That was the fear that had made her pull back and wait for him to indicate his feelings. He had expressed his lust clearly—and friendship—but nothing more. Reyn felt her lip quiver, but she refused to be that sort of woman. She would not cry over this. If Velario didn’t share her feelings, that was fine.
Selona reared back. “Are you kidding? He fell in love with you that first afternoon.”
“He hated me.”
“He hated how much he wanted you.”
Reyn couldn’t argue with that assessment, but it didn’t help her, either. “Physical attraction is not love, Selona.”
“It wasn’t just physical attraction. Why do you think he needled you so much? He enjoyed talking with you. He simply wouldn’t admit it.”
“How can I be sure?” Reyn repeated, this time worrying not over her own emotions but Velario’s.
“Watch him and you’ll see.”
“I don’t know if I can trust my observations. Not after the last time.”
“Then trust me.”
“You thought we were only pretending still.”
Selona chuckled. “I haven’t thought you two were only pretending ever. The only people you fooled were yourselves—the rest of us saw the truth. I’ve been playing along, though, waiting for you to admit that it is real.”
Reyn made the conscious decision to trust Selona’s judgment. She reminded herself that Velario was not Pedon and admitted that what she felt for him eclipsed anything she had ever felt for the Vairainian lord.
“You really think he loves me?” she whispered.
“I do. And he’ll prove it to you. Just be patient.”
“No elaborate plans, Selona.”
She opened her mouth, but Reyn held up a hand. “No. If you are right, then there is no need for one of your schemes. He’ll prove it on his own.”
“I’d only give him a nudge. Hurry the process along.”
“No. Promise, Selona.”
She sighed. “Fine. I promise I won’t nudge him along.”
“I’m surprised youmade time for us tonight.” Khiran slapped Velario on the shoulder as they both walked into Del’s home.
“Things are finally back to normal at the bank.”
Danten rushed up the steps behind them and slipped inside. “About time. You were practically a hermit for a while there.”
“I was not.”
“Could have fooled me.”
“An infant can fool you, Danten.”
