Page 380 of Reign

His eyes search my face. “Are you sure?”

I lift the portfolio. “I have everything in here. I’m ready.”

I think.

Possibly.

Luciano reaches over and smooths his thumb along my cheek.

“You’ll be perfect.”

“What if she hates it?”

“She won’t.”

“What if we have nothing to talk about?”

“You design clothing. She designs clothing.”

“What if I say something stupid?”

“You say stupid things to me constantly. You always recover.”

My mouth falls open. “That was almost supportive.”

“It was entirely supportive.”

“What if she looks at everything and decides I don’t have enough experience? What if she thinks I’m childish? What if—”

“What if nothing.” His hand closes around the back of my neck, steady and warm. “If she doesn’t like your work—which I know will not happen—you’ll build something of your own. That was already the plan, yes?”

I breathe in slowly. “Yes.”

“Then nothing she says today can take your future away from you.”

I look down at the portfolio resting against my knees. “That’s true.”

“I know.”

“This is peer review.”

Luciano goes quiet.

I look at him. “Technically, she’s my peer.”

A low chuckle escapes him.

“Don’t laugh at me.”

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

“Yes,” he admits. “Technically, Evelyn St. Clair is your peer. You do the same thing.”

“Exactly.”

“So go upstairs and have a pleasant conversation with your peer.”