I nod. “Yes.”
“And funny.”
I nod again.
“Does that mean we can get noodles again?”
I narrow my eyes at that question. This is exactly what I was afraid of—Solvi forming connections without knowing just how complex thse relationships are.
“Perhaps.”
She frowns. “Baba.”
“Your mother and I have a strict rule that we are not even supposed to introduce you to anyone until things are starting to get serious.”
“You seemseriously in love with her.”
I scowl at my daughter.
She scowls right back. “So when are you going to tell Mata so we can get noodles again?”
I sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose. “Solvi…”
“No secrets,” she says. “That’s you and Mata’s rule, right?”
“Right,” I confirm, “but that is also why I asked for a week to figure out how to tell you, and you used your detective skills to effectively to give me time.”
“Well, you and Mata always say I’m smart.”
“Youaresmart,” I confirm. “Too smart for your own good.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means,” I sigh, “that sometimes your brain gets ahead of the emotional part of things. You figure out what’s happeningbefore you’re really ready to feel all the feelings that come with it.”
Solvi scrunches her nose. “That’s dumb.”
“I agree,” I say. “It’s a flaw in the system.”
She eyes me warily. “You’re stalling.”
“I’m being honest.”
“You’re beingevasive,” she counters, a little smugly—even though she says that last bit like it’s a foreign word. “Mata says that’s your favorite thing to do when you’re uncomfortable.”
“Did Mata teach you the wordevasivetoo?” I cock my head. “Do you know what it means?”
“It means…you.”
Maybe she’s right; I’m sure that Shahar would be thrilled I’m seeing someone. She really has been after me to date, especially since she started seeing Wulfric seriously. She hasneverbeen jealous.
But it isn’t Shahar I’m worried about.
It’s Lyn…and maybe a little, it’s me.
Because I haven't had any real relationship besides Shahar…and I was never really interested. I was a fine partner to Shahar, but we bonded and had Solvi out of duty to our people, not love. Not even affection, really.
And Lyn?
