“I think I greatly prefer Super Sylvie.” Though she did understand. “I’m not trying to shut you guys out. I don’t want to worry you with my problems. Or maybe I don’t want to have to face them, and if I don’t talk to the two of you about it, my problems aren’t real.”

Sera lay back on her mat. “But they are real. You’re in love with Rene.”

She wasn’t ready to go there yet. “I had a crush on Rene. I’m now curious about him.”

Hallie joined them, all three lying on their backs, looking up at the sky the way they had when they were kids. “I don’t remember a time when you didn’t have a crush on Rene. I think we can move past the idea of a crush. You care deeply about him. Let’s phrase it that way because the L word is scary.”

So scary. “He left me behind once before, and I think I’m still worried that once this is over, he’ll leave me behind again.”

“You think he’s using you?” Sera asked.

That wasn’t exactly how she would put it. “I think Rene’s decided it’s time to start a family and I’m here. I check off all his requirements, and that’s what makes sense to him.”

“Is that so wrong?” Hallie asked.

Sera sighed as though they’d been over this, too. “She wants romance.”

Hallie’s nose wrinkled as though she’d had a terrible thought. “He’s cold? Rene’s a little standoffish, but he doesn’t seem cold.”

Cold wasn’t the problem. It was all that heat between them that made her stumble. “Not at all. He’s quite thoughtful. He texts me during the day, and he’s waiting for me at night. He’s focused on me, but he also needs me right now. What happens when his position is secure? Also, his position will only be secure with his great-aunt as long as he’s married and building a family because apparently single men can’t be trusted. What if he’s doing all of this to keep control of the company?”

Those were the questions that kept her up at night. Well, and wondering if Rene was in the other room lying awake and thinking of her, too.

“Do you believe he could do that?” Sera didn’t sound like she bought that line of thinking.

But Sylvie couldn’t see a way around it. He’d told her flat out he wasn’t sure he could love anyone and that it seemed like it was time for him to get married. “Like I said, I think I meet all his requirements.”

“Like he’s got a list or something?” Sera asked.